Long-term house-sitter with forty years of Greek, French and overall European cultural experience

About this sitter

I am a retired American academic living in France since 2010, first in Paris, and now caring for a house in a medieval village near Montpellier for the past six in a semi-permanent arrangement with the owner who resides in the States. I am reliable, easygoing but responsible, French and also Greek-speaking after living in Greece for research during the 1980s, these days with frequent trips back and forth from France. I am well-traveled, certainly in Europe and Greece, with a range of interests and able to relate to a variety of people. I am also available to care for pets as needed. I have a ten-year French residence visa and an International Driver's Licence with years of experience driving in Greece, including mountain roads. I am a so-called senior and in certified good health. I am an amateur photographer. I have exhibited my photos around the Montpellier area in several cafés and restaurants. I have also traveled in Italy, from Trento to Sicily and lived and taught in the Firenze area for about 6 months. I speak somewhat rusty but not hopeless! Italian.

Why they want to house sit

The owner returns every year for a couple of months and his stays are written into our contract as a chance and necessity for me to travel, often to Greece. I spent May-June 2025 back in Greece in Athens, Andros, Simi, Thessaloniki, September-October 2024 mostly on Corfu, and recently in other spots such as Crete, Karpathos, and Kythera. This year (2026), the owner of the house I rent in my French village in the Hérault region is requesting to return between April 15 and July 1st.

Their experience

Yes, I am currently caretaking this large 3-story house plus walled garden since 2017. I have also done a fair amount of house and pet sitting, regularly for a friend, neighbor, and owner of 4 cats when she needs to be away on business for weeks at a time, up to a month and also for up to a month at a time for friends in the Lot/Dordogne region. Almost a year ago now, in late Feb 2025, I returned from my latest month-long stint there caring for their large house and elderly cat, Darcy. I grew up with several dog breeds (springer spaniel, golden retriever, and newfoundland) and have known a variety of dogs who have enriched my life as only dogs can do! I have cared for rabbits and other species for friends on vacation.

What can they bring to the assignment

Experience, fluency, willingness to learn, curiosity, the desire to meet new people and discover new situations, and a calm spirit that comes from regular yoga practice. I meet people and happily adjust to unfamiliar places wherever I travel, in addition to France and Greece, also most countries in Europe, notably Italy, Portugal, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia.