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After the relationship ended, I believed vacations as a single parent could be straightforward. Quickly discovered they proved often outrageously costly, or appeared exclusively designed for “traditional” families, or were far too cheap that I returned home more exhausted than when I started.

Early Vacation Attempts

My first attempt, camping with friends, was fine up until I had to pack up our shelter. Four hours of wrestling with the tent in the heat later, I hated camping. Next, the adventure holiday for single-parent families. The abseiling and exploring caves were brilliant, but resting in a bunk bed wrecked my back. We tried a budget package in Tenerife, but the crowds of traditional families were overwhelming, and poolside chats with other ladies fizzled out because I didn’t accompanied by a handy husband for their own spouses to talk to. A trip to Majorca with a friend and her kids was wonderful, but the expense was staggering.

Discovering Pet-Sitting

Then, last autumn, a friend asked if we could look after her pets in Devon as she attended to a ceremony. For one peaceful couple of days, we walked along the shore, and curled up by the fire in the evening. That led to pet-sitting for her associate in the region, which also went well. Inspired, I subscribed with an yearly £99 fee to join a house-sitting platform, where, by caring for individuals' pets, you stay in their homes without cost. In just a couple of days, I’d arranged a 10-day house-sit in Sussex, looking after a retriever named Buzz during the time his owners were abroad.

Our daily walks provided the opportunity to explore breathtaking nature spots.

It was our first sit for strangers, but all anxiety dissipated as soon as we reached at the beautiful four-bedroom home and encountered the calm Buzz, who lived for belly scratches. Each day's dog walks offered us the possibility to venture into magnificent scenic areas, and, after we returned home, we could unwind in the garden for meaningful discussions about our favourite “Ghosts” personas in the BBC sitcom. There were no expensive tourist traps to traipse through – instead, we perused bookshops, indulged to nail care, and went on kayak trips. I experienced lighter and more joyful than I had in years, and could feel my bond with my daughter Polly deepen every day. I’m not afraid to admit that I wept from joy. Life seemed achievable once more.

Is Pet-Sitting Right for You?

House-sitting isn’t for everyone. Some people want no responsibilities during vacations other than choosing their upcoming cocktail, are not fond of dogs or cats, or perhaps feel odd about staying in a someone else’s bedroom, clearing the dishwasher, and putting out the trash. However the soothing pace of ordinary living, with work stripped out and fresh locations to explore, suits me perfectly.

This prevents me from slipping into complete inactivity, a state that makes me feeling restless and strangely empty. And, monetarily, house-sitting acts as a life-saver for a single parent. A 10-day getaway in a similar-sized property within the identical area we visited could cost me back approximately £2,500 on Airbnb.

A New Outlook

As for staying in a another person’s house, I found it enriching. Although house-sitting is a exchange, it’s also an expression of faith among strangers and creatures, which has brought out my best self – my calm, loving and balanced side, overflowing with appreciation for the people and locations we discover. I have lined up an additional short break away, looking after a sighthound within verdant Surrey, and, next year, I’d like to attempt house-sitting abroad. Due to a touch of creative thinking, we can see the world from the comfort of a home – it simply happens to be another person’s.