Off-Grid Awesome near Santa Fe & Albuquerque, NM! Relax in the Land of Enchantment!

About this assignment

Have you ever dreamed of kicking loose from it all and finding yourself a stunning, quiet retreat somewhere? This is your chance to make that happen! Seeking eco-minded, conscientious non-smoker(s), comfortable in a place without streetlights or neighbors. Come kick back on 70 acres with our two (usually) low-maintenance, friendly dogs, one affectionate cat, expansive views and stunning night skies. And, Christmas in Madrid, NM, is a fabulous place to be!

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

Responsibilities: Care for our furry family and enjoy yourself!

Our two rescued livestock guardian dogs washed out as working dogs and are now playful, easy-going (but independent-minded) pets. Since we have no livestock, they watch over their humans. Our eldest, Brady, is a ten-year-old half Akbash Dog, half Great Pyrenees. Macie is a six-year-old half Akbash Dog, half Anatolian mix. They sleep indoors at night and roam free during the day. They are low energy breeds, relaxing and snoozing during the day close to home punctuated by occasionally running off a coyote. We keep tabs on them with Garmin GPS collars, so sitters need to be comfortable using electronic devices.

Rocky (the cat) came to us from the animal shelter's barn cat program. He turned out to be anything but a feral barn cat. He's more a furry shadow who will likely follow you around like a puppy while trying to convince you to rub his head and fix him a snack :-)

We'll need you to be here with them most of the time so they can keep their normal schedules (active outside in the morning and evenings, mostly sleeping midday). If you need to go out on your own occasionally, it's ok to leave them home midday for up to six hours or so. They are all pretty low maintenance but everyone needs to be fed in the mornings and early evening and you'll need to make sure their water bowls are full.

Aside from that, there are some plants to water, wild birds to keep fed, gardens to water in warmer weather, and no-touch mouse traps to empty (keeps the car wiring from being chewed) but that's about it. Plenty of time for hiking (and lots of space to do that in) and for just having a chance to take the time to just BE.

What are the good features of the property and location

Our home is off-the-grid and solar-powered. What that means is that we are out by ourselves, three miles from pavement, without a landline, utility electric, city water or sewers. Our home runs on regular, 120v, power, but we generate it ourselves with our own solar electric system. The house is made of adobe brick and is primarily heated by sunlight, thanks to its passive solar design. If needed, we also have supplemental wood stoves. We live in the high desert and have no well; all of our household and irrigation water comes from the sky and is captured in our rain catchment system. This means we are thoughtful and frugal with our water use (think Navy showers). We also reuse most of our water with a grey water system. All water in the house, except toilet waste, is routed underground to water the roots of fruit trees in our orchard.

While all that may sound rustic, it's really not. Our systems are largely self-sufficient, requiring some monitoring but very rarely any maintenance. We have great internet, decent cell coverage, a library in our separate casita, a gym, and most of the appliances and amenities you'd expect (except a television, which we ditched 25 years ago). We do, however, have a roku projector so you can stream movies if you want.

Our partially covered patio is where we spend most our time. There you'll find a pizza oven, a gas grill and a summer kitchen with an awesome 1930's/40's era Chambers stove. We also have a solar oven that lets you cook with nothing but sunlight, if you'd like to try your hand at something different -- how cool is that? There's also a very comfortable futon, if you feel the urge to sleep under the stars. Even in the dead of winter, we often have a warm, sunny lunch on the south patio. You never have to be stuck indoors if you don't want to be.


What makes our home truly special is its peace, solitude, incredible views and breathtaking skies. For a sense of how mind-bogglingly beautiful it can be out here, check out these panorama shots of just one winter sunrise: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zfcADzPu8m45zTiFA. Honestly, if being remote and immersed in your environment is your thing (like it is ours), this is the gig for you. The only drawback to where we live is that we're three rough dirt road miles from pavement, which means that frequent in/out trips are impractical. But we do have a vehicle available for use to minimize wear and tear on your own car, if you're driving in. And you won't need a rental vehicle if you are flying.

We're conveniently locate about 45 minutes south of Santa Fe, with its fabulous restaurants, arts and culture, and about an hour north of Albuquerque, off the Turquoise Trail Scenic Byway. We're located just outside of the fun and funky town of Madrid, NM, with its vibrant alternative, artistic community, galleries, shops and restaurants. And Christmas is a very big deal in Madrid, so if you're lucky enough to be here in December, you'll see the town in full holiday regalia. (Links to a few articles on our town are at the end of this description.)

Just a few miles up the road is the town of Los Cerrillos, where you'll find the post office, our local medical clinic, the Cerrillos Hills State Park, the Blackbird Saloon, and Cerrillos Station, which has a little bit of everything, offering a seasonal farmer's market, a few groceries, art, jewelry, yoga, dance, massage and more.

More about our area:

CBS Sunday Morning: "A ghost town's Christmas past"
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-ghost-towns-christmas-past-madrid-new-mexico/

"A Big, Dysfunctional Family in Madrid, New Mexico"
http://talesofatelecommuter.blogspot.com/2009/04/big-dysfunctional-family-in-madrid-new.html

"Not A Ghost Town Anymore"
https://newmexiconomad.com/madrid/?fbclid=IwAR3EuLRXD_PsiPIbs_00hskc9PCclgNz7JwrDVL5UgPPGT3IkLnmLxeTKqQ

What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment

We think this place is ideal, but please think carefully about whether you're comfortable being off on your own like this. It takes someone with an independent attitude and the ability to address unexpected situations on their own. Resourceful, resilient, adaptable, conscientious, and kind are the adjectives that describe our perfect sitters.

You'll need to be thoughtful about your water and electrical use. And you need to be present and aware of your surroundings when you're outdoors. Although it's rare to see, we do have wildlife out here. We certainly have our share of bunnies and jackrabbits, but we've also got spiders, snakes and packrats. And we live in the high desert, so virtually every plant is ready and eager to puncture you. So if any of that freaks you out, this is probably not the right sit for you. But if the idea of being that immersed in and connected to your world excites you, please reach out -- we'd love to learn more about your situation and experiences.

We generally have some flexibility with our travel dates, so we can talk about that if you need to. And if you'd like to spend a few extra days exploring the area after your sit, we can make our guest studio available to you.

Couples preferred and, at this point in time, we are seeking exchange sitters and not considering professionals.

Can I bring my own pets?

Yes
Restrictions: We're open to sitters travelling with pets but need to evaluate each situation individually.

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