Long Term House & Pet Sitters Available From 5 October

About this sitter

We are Christine and Gerard, a Dutch couple travelling the world while working remotely.

Christine is an online Relationship Coach, and Gerard is a former Materials Manager who now works on websites and technical support. We are also exploring the world with a bigger dream in mind: finding the right place to start a relationship resort one day.

So we do not just pass through places. We like to really feel them. We love a good luxury restaurant, but we are just as happy eating something simple and delicious at a local market.

From around 5 October (we might have already a commitment from 16th July till 5 th October in New Zealand), we are looking for a longer term house sit where we can settle in, work from home, care for the animals, and enjoy the rhythm of everyday life.

We love animals and we take their care seriously. At the same time, we are not looking for a sit where we are expected to be at home 24/7. Pets get plenty of company with us, but we also like to explore, walk, eat out and discover the area.

What we do like:

1. Communication with mutual willingness and flexibility when something needs to be solved.

For example, we once took care of dogs where one turned out to be a bit of a Houdini escape artist. She discovered she could squeeze through the fence when we left for groceries. So we used some rope to make the gate opening smaller. Was it the most beautiful solution in the world? Absolutely not. Did it work? Yes. And that was what mattered.

2. Share regularly videos, photos and stories of your pets. We love, love pets and have to warn you: Christine loves oversharing, so we accept that you don’t react on every message while you are away!

3. Be a bit flexibel two ways. Like giving us the responsibilty to figure out what works best in our connection with your pets. Example: every pet owner has their own rituals with taking their pets on bed or not. Most of the times we don’t do this as Christine goes out of bed many times. What we do is taking care of your pets and make them feel safe during our stay. That means that if a pet is very nervous during the nights or need extra care, that we put the pet bed near our bed and stroke the pet - when they are awake - regularly when needed. We noticed that this works lovely ??

4. Win - win situations. Everyone is doing their best to help each other in the best possible way, while making some new friendly connections with people all over the world. Although it is very challenging to stay in contact?

5. We love it when we can take pets out for hiking, running, swimming or to a cafe for coffee. We respect it of course when you have more indoursy pets, and give them lots of love and attention at home.

What we don’t like:
1. Questions that are ignored, or very slow replies without saying when we can expect an answer.
2. No photos of the house, especially for a longer term sit.
3. No possibility of a video call before confirming.
4. Expecting us to be at home 24/7 without another sitter or shared care arrangement.

If you are looking for two responsible, warm, experienced adults who will care for your pets and home properly, while also enjoying life around them, we may be a great match.

At the moment, we are in Fiji. Locations within a relatively short flight from Fiji are especially attractive, but we also have a flexible flight option via Chicago for the right longer term sit.

Why they want to house sit

In the simplest words: we are digital nomads. We sold our house, we love travelling, and we also need and want to work. House sitting is the perfect combination for us.

We love animals, but for a long time it did not feel responsible to have pets of our own. Years ago, we did have pets, but we also loved travelling and being outdoors. We have done hikes in Northern Scandinavia with backpacks, completely off grid. Carrying our own food was already quite a challenge, 25 kilos was really the maximum, so adding food and care for dogs or cats would not exactly have been a brilliant plan.

Now we have discovered house sitting, and it fits this phase of our life beautifully. We can travel, work from home, live in real homes, and enjoy the company of animals without pretending that we are in one place forever.

What we also love is that house sitting is so different from ordinary travelling. You do not just pass through a place. You live there for a while. You meet neighbours, discover local cafés, restaurants, markets and events, and sometimes people introduce you to the local community.

In Michigan, for example, we experienced Art Attack and a local art fair, which was great fun. Here in Fiji, we are also enjoying the local rhythm, the people, the animals and the feeling of really being somewhere, not just visiting.

For us, house sitting is not only about accommodation. It is about trust, animals, daily life, community, and discovering the world in a much more real and human way.

Their experience

We have many years of experience with home exchanges through Intervac and have been actively house sitting through TrustedHousesitters since 2024, where we have received excellent reviews from homeowners.

Our experience includes caring for:

• Dogs, including large rescue dogs
• Cats of different ages and personalities
• Birds and poultry
• Homes with gardens and outdoor responsibilities

At the moment we are caring for two rescue dogs and a cat in Fiji. Previous sits have included pets in the United States, Scotland, Sweden, France and our home country, The Netherlands.

Homeowners often describe us as typically Dutch: friendly, direct, and reliable. When we agree to do something, we do it. As we say in the Netherlands: ‘A deal is a deal.’ Or, in Dutch: ‘Afspraak is afspraak.’ ?

What can they bring to the assignment

We bring reliability, life experience, calm energy and genuine care.

As a couple in our fifties and sixties, we are no longer in the phase of wild parties, drama or chaotic travel plans. We enjoy a comfortable home base, meaningful work, animals around us, and enough freedom to explore the local area.

Over the years, we have learned that caring for pets is about much more than feeding them and taking them for walks. Pets miss their humans. They notice changes. They thrive on routine, predictable behaviour and feeling safe.

One of the things we have learned during our house sits is that small rituals can make a big difference. Before we leave the house, or before we go to bed, we gently stroke the pets on the head, if they enjoy that, and say in a calm, slightly sing-song voice: ‘We love you. We’ll be back. Sleep tight.’ When we leave for groceries, dinner or an outing, we often do the same and give them a small treat.

We know this may sound a little over the top, especially from a Dutch perspective. Perhaps even a bit fluffy. But pets are not interested in what humans think is fluffy. They care about feeling safe. Time and again, we have seen animals relax when they learn the pattern: these people leave, and these people come back.

That is probably what we bring most. Not only practical care, but also attention to the emotional wellbeing of the animals entrusted to us.

You can expect:

• Loving and consistent pet care
• Regular updates and photos if you like
• A clean and well cared for home
• Respect for your routines and instructions
• Clear communication before and during the sit
• Two responsible adults rather than one overstretched sitter
• A healthy balance between being home and enjoying the surroundings

Because we work remotely, pets usually have plenty of company during the day. At the same time, we are not a 24/7 house arrest service. We care deeply, but we also enjoy going for a walk, visiting a market, discovering local events, or having dinner somewhere special.

Our goal is simple: when you return home, you find relaxed and happy pets, a clean home, and the feeling that everything has been in safe, caring and capable hands.