Farmers, Sailors & Travelers

About this sitter

Hello! We’re Coco and Wally and we are ready for a new season of travels in our retirement. We've just begun our journey of housesitting as we transition from the sea to land. New places and unfamiliar situations don’t intimidate us—they interest us. We don’t just make acquaintances—we make friends.


Wally was raised in the country; Coco was raised in big cities. We combined the two, made a great team for 28 years!
Moving frequently taught Coco to embrace change and make the most of wherever she landed. Wally brought the grounded practicality and resourcefulness of country life. We enjoy experiencing a place as locals—meeting people, finding the neighborhood market or café, attending church, and becoming part of a community for a while.
We own and live on our three-generation family cattle farm, where we raise cattle from birth to beef. We manage our farm, homestead, gardens, routine maintenance and equipment as a family, although these days we happily leave the heavy work to the younger generation! We’ve often taken in abandoned animals left near the farm and helped find new homes for them.

Wally grew up around farm animals and spent much of his youth around his best friend’s family stockyard. He was also a bull rider and has a lifetime of experience handling animals. Coco was a dressage and jumping equestrian.
Today, along with our cattle, we enjoy our granddogs, Gracie and Duck, along with our grandcats, Leo, Hank and Momo.

Wally worked as a lineman for the 2nd largest electric company in the US—a career requiring safety, responsibility, practical skills and good judgment. He also held a commercial driver’s license.
Coco was an international IT Program Manager, managing programs around the world including China, South America, Europe, the Netherlands, the Caribbean, the Philippines and locations throughout the United States. International travel was a regular part of her career.
Together, we’ve traveled more than 25,000 nautical miles aboard our own boats, from 35’ to 60’, through middle and eastern United States and the Caribbean. Living aboard your own boat is a lesson in self-reliance as you maintain your own mini-city. Weather changes, equipment breaks and plans rarely unfold exactly as expected. You learn to assess a situation, find a solution and keep going.
Between Coco’s years of international business travel and our years of independent cruising, we’re comfortable navigating unfamiliar places, adapting to different environments and meeting people from many backgrounds.
This will be our first winter without a boat, giving us the freedom to travel on a whim and spend meaningful time in new places loving on your pets.

We’re outgoing, adaptable, independent and curious. We’re both nonsmokers and have valid driver’s licenses.
We’re also Christians who love God and love people. We understand the trust involved in leaving your home and pets in someone else’s care. We’re happy to meet by Zoom or video before making a commitment and to send photos and updates while you’re away.

Why they want to house sit

House sitting brings together so many things we enjoy: animals, travel, new challenges, local communities and new friendships.

We’re longtime homeowners accustomed to managing a home, acreage, gardens, animals and equipment. We notice problems, use common sense and take responsibility for whatever is in our care.

We’ll care for your home with respect and care for your animals as members of the family.
Country and city turned out to be a pretty good combination. We’d love the opportunity to meet you.

Their experience

We've just begun our journey of housesitting as we transition from the sea to the land. We’ve helped friends out by staying in their home and taking care of their furbabies. During one sailing trip offshore, a fellow sailor had a medical emergency and we volunteered to have his dog, Bear, join us aboard our boat for several days.

What can they bring to the assignment

We are retired with lots of life experiences. Wally lives in the moment and I'm the planner, so your pets get the best of both worlds.