The house and pet sitting assignment in Venice is completed,
now it's time for a review. We'll talk
about anything unusual around the house, the local area, and my recommendations
of things to do when you visit Venice.
NORTH CAROLINA - Sylva - 2014 - House Sitting - Chapter 2 - The Weather is Coming
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| Watchful eyes are watching me |
Imagine, lying in your bed all warm and cozy under a down
filled comforter. Feeling rested your
mind races as the clock in your brain says it's time to wake up but your body
says, why. Then the bed moves, and you
know you went to bed alone. You feel a
cool draft enter the warmth of the comforter, you turn to the edge, looking
into a pair of large brown eyes; Simba, the castle guard is watching.
Realizing I'm a stranger, I talk to the guard in a calming
voice. Soon he removes his long nose
from the comforter as he wags his tail; he now knows I belong here. Welcome to the first morning of a house and
pet sitter on assignment.
NORTH CAROLINA - Sylva - 2014 - House Sitting - Chapter 1 - Florida boy heads north
Another house/pet sitting journey has started. I just finished an assignment in Venice
Florida on 2 November and this assignment started on 9 November, a mere seven
days. But before driving to the mountains of western North Carolina (NC), I'm going to stop in Savannah Georgia (GA) to visit my "brother of a different mother" and his family.
Let's start this posting
with the drive, including a two-day stop in GA.
FLORIDA - Venice - 2014 - House Sitting - Chapter 2 - The week in pictures
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| Intercoastal Waterway from the Tamiani Trail (US 41) |
FLORIDA - Venice - 2014 - House Sitting - Chapter 1 - Arrival & Touring
I've just started my sixth house and pet sitting assignment
since May of this year. Two of them were
on the island of Vieques in Puerto Rico, and this one, like the rest of the
others have been in the state of Florida.
FLORIDA - Naples - 2014 - House Sitting - With "The Ice Bucket Challenge"
Another house and pet sitting assignment has come and gone
with one caveat; I spent most of this one with my arm in a cast.
I recently had carpal and cubical tunnel surgery on my right
arm thus making typing a bit challenging. After a day of trying to type I
bought a dictation software program; now I have to learn how to use it. So far,
it's straightforward and while I'll have to edit manually, the majority of
typing is done with the software.
FLORIDA - The Villages - 2014 - House Sitting - The Villages in Retrospect
Recently I completed a two-week house/pet sitting assignment
at The Villages in Florida.
FLORIDA - Tampa - 2014 - House Sitting - Chapter 1 - A Great Bungalow Revisited
Shortly before departing for two house/pet sitting
assignments in Puerto Rico, I received a call from Letty, a previous client;
they wanted me to sit their home and two dogs, Scooter and Miso. The winds of good fortune were with us and I
was available the week they needed.
PUERTO RICO - Vieques Island - Tips and Reviews - Updated June 2014
GETTING THERE
Arriving through the San Juan,
Puerto Rico (SJU-Luis Munoz Marin Intl.) or anywhere on the main island of
Puerto Rico you will have a couple travel options.
PUERTO RICO - Vieques, Puerto Rico - 2014 - House Sitting - Chapter 7 - Same Island, Different House
My final night at the Esperanza Inn was again
uneventful. Carol picked me up around
1030 hours and after dropping her off at the airport my next assignment has
begun.
PUERTO RICO - Vieques - 2014 - House Sitting - Chapter 6 - In and Around Esperanza
Esperanza is the small town (more a village than a town) on the
touristy side of Vieques. It's mainly
comprised of lodging, bars, restaurants, and excursion businesses. There is a grocery store where visitors can
obtain necessities and household items.
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| Horses wander the streets |
PUERTO RICO - Vieques - 2014 - House Sitting - Chapter 5 - One Assignment Complete and Tourist Time
With the return of Chris and Elisabeth, the first of two
house/pet sitting assignments here is complete.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog series, the home also has
rental units, here's the link Vieques Countryside.
PUERTO RICO - Vieques - 2014 - House Sitting - Chapter 4 - Sounds of Nature and Isabel Segunda
Being on an island with plenty of cars, but not a single
traffic light, gets a person to thinking.
I realize motorized vehicles are a big part of our daily
lives. But, it's now obvious to me, we
don't need to awake to racing engines, honking horns, or the constant whirl of
passing vehicles. Since being here, all
my mornings have started with nature's songs; branches rustling in the gentle
breeze, birds singing, and roosters crowing.
Couple that with the sweet smell of blooming flowers mixed with ripening
fruit and citrus, it activates your
senses of sight, touch, and taste; NOW get your ass out of bed, a new day has
arrived.
PPUERTO RICO - Vieques - 2014 - House Sitting - Chapter 3 - Life on the island
Arrival and orientation completed, homeowners departed, it's now time to experience 'life as a local' on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico.
PUERTO RICO - Vieques - 2014 - House Sitting - Chapter 2 - Home Owners Depart
Sunday was spent helping Chris and Elisabeth around the
house and in the evening, a few friends gathered to watch the sunset. It's more a less a ritual for some residents,
either watching from the beach or patios and terraces at home; what a great way
to end the day.
Monday morning started early, as Chris and Elisabeth had to
be at the ferry terminal by 0600 for a scheduled 0630 departure. For the ferry, "scheduled" simply means
that's the plan, and plans change; as they often do for the ferry.
TUESDAY TRAVELER - April 2014 - Travel includes your hometown
Many of us "travel", but how many of us consider
day and weekend trips to nearby locations as traveling? Until a couple months ago, I only considered
it traveling when I would spend a few days to several weeks away from
home. Is that how you feel?
TUESDAY TRAVELER - 4 February 2014 -Traveling Solo
I'd like to hear and share your travel stories. If you have pictures, include your best shots
so not only can we read your words but see you photos too.
Send them to me at: TravelThruMyEyes@gmail.com.
Send them to me at: TravelThruMyEyes@gmail.com.
But for now, we'll talk about traveling solo.
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| While I may be solo, I am never alone |
2013 IN REVEIW - Welcome 2014
As with everything, there is a beginning and an end. The year 2013 has ended and 2014 has begun.
Many people have made resolutions, wish lists, bucket lists,
set goals, or whatever we want to call them for things they want to accomplish
this year. I too am guilty of making
some of these and yes, I am equally as guilty of not following through on
them.
In my opinion the easiest way to accomplish things in life
is to have a plan. This not only applies
to your professional life, but to your leisure life as well. For me, since retiring at the age of 56 my
professional and leisure lives have combined into one.
Traveling and writing were by-products of my profession. I traveled where my employer sent me and my writing
was instructional, technical, and rather mundane. That has all changed, thanks to you.
Here's a brief look at 2013, my year in review.
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