This is the second time that Mark and I did a “repeat sit”, the only other time being in Sebastopol, CA with one of our favorite dogs, Lola. We are often asked back by owners to take care of their homes and pets again, but it rarely fits in our plans or weather tolerance, or we’d rather explore new areas of the country.
Since we house sat (no pets) at this location in Eldorado, Santa Fe from mid-August to mid-September 2017, it felt like coming home. The area and house were familiar, and meeting the owners again was like reconnecting with old friends. The tasks were similar than before, mainly keeping the house clean and occupied, collecting the mail, and taking care of the yard and indoor plants. Because our duration was twice as long, eight weeks instead of four, the trees also needed watering and the four cars starting and driving every two weeks. We were welcome to use one of their cars, a bonus! Especially since Zesty needed some work done; one of those projects didn’t go so well, as I wrote about last week.
Other than that, I sent weekly updates, and the bird baths and feeders were happily kept full. It was a joy to see not only birds, but also lizards and rabbits drink from the trays. Water is scarce in the desert. During the two months we were here, it rained once. Besides eating and drinking, the birds were also extremely busy building nests. Two of their favorite places were the grill, under the cover, and the newspaper mailbox.
Unlike last summer, Mark and I didn’t go away every weekend. Only once, did we venture to Southern New Mexico in Zesty for a wonderful few days away from it all. Most weekends were spent at home, or in the area. The heavy winds we experienced in Albuquerque during our previous house sit prevailed here as well, making it unpleasant to go for hikes, bike rides, or even sit outside. Whenever the wind mellowed during the weekend, we took advantage of a day trip, a walk in the nearby hills, or a bike ride on the Rail Trail, a fantastic gravel path that runs all the way to Santa Fe proper, 14 miles away.
We really like the Santa Fe area, its vibe, and its attractions, and feel like we explored most of what the town has to offer, while also being productive with work (my memoir and our business). But, next time, we might skip spring in this state.
Best feature(s): A comfortable adobe home in a wonderful area. A car to use. The wildlife in the yard: coyotes, rabbits, lizards, and heaps of birds. The Week, an informative and entertaining news magazine that arrived every week.
Best gadget(s): The grill came in handy on sunny, wind still days once summer arrived. The kitchen was equipped with useful appliances.
Surprise(s): The owners gave us a $100 certificate for the Japanese-themed Ten Thousand Waves Spa & Hot Springs, which we used towards the end of our stay. A relaxing afternoon at the pools, and a tasty early dinner at the restaurant were exactly what we needed. They also brought back a few gifts for us from Scotland, which was unexpected and wonderful.
Downside(s): The wind, the wind, and the wind, which seems to blow hard, and is ever-present everywhere in New Mexico in the spring.
We didn’t ask the owners for a review this time, as they left one after our previous care taking assignment, which you can read by scrolling down to “Arthur and Nan” on this page.
What’s next? Mark and I are trying full-time living in the camper for 2.5 weeks. Just like seven out of the eight years we sailed on Irie, and our three-week RV trip in New Zealand a few years ago, we will face plenty of challenges combining our jobs and business with being on the road, chasing internet. There’s a reason we’ve been house and pet sitting in comfortable homes for almost three years! 😊
May 30, 2018 at 08:39
Liesbet, great to see you both smiling and the sun is shining and the BBQ is being used, life is good 🙂 It can be more relaxing doing a resit, don’t you think? The terrain looks so much like Spain, a country we both love visiting. Love the style of houses! A few NZers copied the idea of those flat roofs, not a great idea when the rainfall is on the high side!! Enjoy the warmer temps. We are leaving in the morning for another road trip with a few stops in Wales.
May 31, 2018 at 12:43
Yes, it sure is more relaxing to do a repeat house sit. Some familiarity once in a while, and knowing what you get into sure is nice. And, when curiosity strikes, we can get a new house sit.
I do like the adobe houses as well. Never thought I’d have an architectural preference when it came to houses, but, there you go. 🙂 We went from warm to hot, here in Arizona, where it’s sunny and in the thirties Celsius, Suz. Now, we can complain about the heat. Still extremely windy, which keeps us from having the windows open, worrying they might blow off. Enjoy your road trip! One day, we will as well. 🙂
May 30, 2018 at 08:54
What a beautiful area, Liesbet. I love the desert, but I’ve never been to Santa Fe. It sounds like the homeowners were both accommodating and generous. Question…how could you not bring home that Alpaca? That face! I just want to squeeze it! I’ll be anxious to hear about your camper living. 🙂
May 31, 2018 at 12:45
You should definitely check out Santa Fe one day, Jill. It’s very artsy, clean, and they kept the zoning under control. The home owners were and are wonderful. They agreed to store Zesty when we take the train west for six weeks as well. Nothing but gratitude! The alpacas were very cute, but a bit shy. Otherwise, we would have taken one home as a pet, of course. 🙂
May 30, 2018 at 08:59
When we’re low on data or just feel like gobbling it up, we visit a local library. When the winds were whipping like crazy during our stay at Lake Powell, we would spend the day at the library in Page getting work done. Enjoy your RV travels over the next couple of weeks. I look forward to hearing/seeing where your adventures take you.
May 31, 2018 at 12:50
Good idea, Ingrid. That’s what I did on Tuesday, preparing this last blog, uploading the photos and such. While the library works perfectly for me (electricity, desk, WiFi, bathroom, climate control), it doesn’t for Mark who needs to provide customer support eight hours a day, and who needs to make lots of phone calls. Missing out on parts of the Petrified Forest NP at this very moment, hitting the cell towers and library of Holbrook. I was thinking about you and your petrified wood bracelet, which I love. Do you remember where you bought it? I’m hoping we can swing back to the NP later today, work and time permitting. All I find is expensive pieces for necklaces. Thanks!
May 30, 2018 at 09:05
How wonderful !! Other than the wind (and no doggies) it really looks like an incredible setting to be in for a house sit. I have been once to Santa Fe and just love the region – we did some great hikes. The architecture the adobe houses and the landscape are all beautifully captured in your photos. And am a fan of the small “lamas” and hot springs! Yesss!!!!
Peta
May 31, 2018 at 12:52
I’m glad you like the area and the photos, Peta. Of all the places Mark and I have house sat long-term, this area is definitely among our favorites. And, we wouldn’t mind going back, just not in the winter and the spring. 🙂
May 30, 2018 at 10:36
It’s windy in the desert. And dry. But what a beautiful place to return to. And with llamas to boot!
May 31, 2018 at 12:53
Beautiful indeed! And, you’re a wiser man than us, Alex. We had no idea it could be so windy in the desert. Sure, once in a while would be tolerable, but every day (even as I speak, outside my window) is a bit much. We’re hoping to head north tomorrow.
May 30, 2018 at 10:44
Other than that damnable wind (I would hate that, too), this sounds like an ideal place for you to have been to catch up on some work and take care of Zesty. After your rough and busy times earlier in the year, it must have been nice to stay put in a familiar place for two months. My son and his fiancee are just a few weeks away from moving into a large RV for 6 months, and I’ll be curious to hear how they cope with chasing the internet!
May 31, 2018 at 12:58
It was a very welcome two months in the same house, Lexie. A time which, unfortunately, came with many issues that would have been impossible to deal with from the road. And, to be honest, we should have looked for another house sit instead of living in the van right now. We need our comfort and electricity and internet availability to work. I thought we might be able to swing it, but it is tough.
That’s fantastic that your son is hitting the road as well. If they work from home, it’ll be tough to combine that with pleasure and all the RV responsibilities (finding camping, dump stations, water, parts, …). I think having Verizon as a cell carrier and unlimited data plans are the way to go. And, staying in an RV park once in a while. We just don’t have the budget for that. It’s half our battle. Always. Wish them well!!
May 30, 2018 at 12:51
This looks like such a beautiful area to spend some time and the owners sound lovely too. We wish you and Mark a wonderful time touring with Zesty and I look forward to seeing where your next adventure will take you 🙂💖 xxx
May 31, 2018 at 12:59
Thanks, Xenia. Doing a big loop back to Santa Fe in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully, we will get to enjoy some of the sights on offer. Unfortunately, this seems to be a remote (and hot and windy) area without much cell coverage. So, we will see what happens!
May 30, 2018 at 14:54
It looks very beautiful, shame about the wind!
May 31, 2018 at 13:01
Yeah… It’s still blowing strong. We have to hold on to our hats and keep the RV windows shut. Yesterday, I said to Mark “It would be blowing me out of my socks, if I wore any.” Not sure whether that’s an English expression, but I do know it’s way too hot for socks in the Arizona desert. 🙂
May 30, 2018 at 17:07
I love Santa Fe, but I wouldn’t like the wind either. It never occurred to me that winds would be a problem.
I hope you’re having a great time touring in Zesty. If we don’t hear from you for a bit, we’ll assume you’re having fun rather than chasing Internet. Given the option, go for the first 🙂
May 31, 2018 at 13:05
Same here, Karen. After leaving our boat, we never thought to think about the wind and its effects ever again. We’ve wizened up and check the weather forecasts before committing to a house sit now. But, nothing ever mentioned the wind. And, neither did the home owners in Albuquerque or Santa Fe. People get used to it, I guess, but it does put a damper on things. After three months of it, it starts to grind on you. Hey, I seem to find something to complain about every single day. While it’s still windy, it’s definitely not the worst of our problems.
I wish we had the option to go for the first one, fun as opposed to hunting cell signals or libraries. But, Mark works full-time on our business, so we need internet every workday. Of course, I knew it would be tough on the road. House sits are much easier and more accommodating, for sure!
May 31, 2018 at 05:48
Congratulations on another great housesit! Enjoy your 2.5 weeks ahead. I look forward to reading about them!
May 31, 2018 at 13:06
Thanks, Donna. I hope there’s something to write and post about. Just kidding! Memorial Day Weekend was very nice. This week is another story… Makes me wish we accepted or applied to another house sit.
May 31, 2018 at 10:53
Hi Liesbet
Sounds like you had a better week. I hope Zesty’s leaky issues are repaired once and for all.
Travel safe and enjoy the time.
Laura
May 31, 2018 at 13:08
Thanks, Laura. Trying to combine work and pleasure on the road right now. Unfortunately, the leak is not fixed yet. We didn’t want to wait around for three days during Memorial Day Weekend, so we’ve made another appointment in Santa Fe in ten days or so. Have a nice day!
May 31, 2018 at 15:48
Hi Liesbet! Oh the wind! We get wind in the spring here in the desert but I would say it is only about 20% of the time. It sounds like you had it much worse. Bummer. Otherwise the sit seems wonderful. No wonder the owners want to leave during that time period 🙂 Just like we will be leaving in August for 3 weeks. We have house sitters lined up but I have told them over and over that it gets really hot out during the day and stays warm even at night. To walk you need to get up REALLY early and then the rest of the day hang out in A/C. But my sitters (from DC) say they are used to the heat and can handle it! I suppose that is a chance both sitter and pet owner must consider. And MAJOR bummer that Zesty isn’t fixed. I hope that gets resolved soon. ~Kathy
June 5, 2018 at 11:16
Hi Kathy! I’m glad you lined up another set of sitters for this summer. Not a time I’d like to be in the desert. 🙂 It’s been extremely hot, ever since we left Santa Fe. And the wind keeps being persistent in New Mexico as well. That and the dust is finally making us head to Colorado for the last few days of our trip. It’s always important for sitters and home owners to be honest and straightforward about everything. Not only will the owners be comfortable leaving their home and “babies”, but it might get responsible sitters to come back for a return sit. Zesty’s windshield is still leaking, after multiple tries. We’re pulling our hair out and have to plan everything around it!! It’s been extremely frustrating, time consuming, and constraining.
June 1, 2018 at 15:02
So many positives of this house sit. I would guess the home owners were so happy with your stay last time the extra gifts and spa day were not only a thank you but for you to consider a return one day. The wind can be such a deterrent. Too bad about that. Best wishes for the camper adventure. I have no doubt the two of you can do most anything you set your minds to!
June 5, 2018 at 11:42
The home owners were pretty stoked that we agreed to come back for a return house sit, Sue, since they know we don’t like cold weather. But, the cold was not what bothered us; it was the wind this time. We really appreciate the generosity of this couple! 🙂 Mark and I can be determined in many ways, but we’d like some good luck to return, as life has been quite challenging lately.
June 3, 2018 at 09:08
Sante Fe is on Our List. Looks like you had a wonderful stay! I would hate it if the wind made it uncomfortable to sit outside! Glad you had some nice experiences! ~ Lynn
June 5, 2018 at 11:47
The wind keeps preventing us from doing much outside, let alone sit and enjoy a drink at 5pm. It seems to pick up in the afternoons. But, we’ve decided to drive into Colorado (Mesa Verde NP) with Zesty this afternoon, so hopefully the weather will be more pleasant. 🙂
June 3, 2018 at 19:30
Such a beautiful area, Liesbet, a place I would love to visit soon! I can imagine that desert wind to be highly irritating (we get our share of the North wind here in Spring). Glad you were productive and got to watch some backyard wildlife put on a show!
June 5, 2018 at 11:49
You’re right, Terri, the wind is getting old, especially since it kicks up sand and dust. Zesty is grimy and a serious mess right now, after the filth the workers left attempting to fix her rust spots and windshield, and now all the red and brown desert sand. I love wildlife. And, I know you appreciate it, too. 🙂 Looking forward to reading about your RV adventures soon as well.
June 5, 2018 at 08:02
Congrats, Liesbet, on another successful house sit! Thank you for sharing your recap and beautiful photos. I don’t like when it’s windy either. I saw alpacas when I was in Peru. They’re very cute. Hope you week is going well with reliable internet service even if you need to stop by a library.
June 5, 2018 at 11:51
Thanks, Natalie. I’m at the library now, scurrying on my computer to get a few things done. It’s always a bit of an unknown how to get online, and whether the signal works OK, even at libraries. I’m hoping to have some time soon to read yours, and other blogs. But, we’ll see. It might have to wait until I’m settled in Belgium for a few weeks. Needing to post some of my own posts again first. 🙂 I hope you’re having a wonderful week as well!
June 5, 2018 at 17:45
I will miss your beautiful NM posts Liesbet. Your photos are breathtaking and make me homesick for the desert again. Sadly, I won’t be returning until the US gets its act together so I will live vicariously through you. 🙂
June 7, 2018 at 07:09
Thank you about the post and photos compliment, Debby. I’ll have two more New Mexico blogs coming up, with plenty of photos of National Parks and National Monuments, whenever this trip is done. That should keep you over for another two years, until you can return. I totally understand your sentiment. If I wouldn’t be in the situation I am right now, in regards to immigration, we’d be out of here as well, like we did in the past.
July 7, 2018 at 18:37
I think every place a person lives has some disadvantages. For example, when I lived in northern British Columbia, the winters were long, cold, and snowy. In southern BC, the winters are rainy and grey. On the prairies, there was a lot of wind. However, for me, the advantages of each place outweigh the disadvantages. Northern BC: fantastic skiing, hiking, fishing, and social life. Southern BC: beautiful climate in Spring, summer, and fall, close to family, easy access to both wilderness and urban culture; Prairies: river valley walks, close to the Rocky Mountains, new areas to explore. Is there a place anywhere that is perfect in every way?
Jude
July 9, 2018 at 01:46
You are totally right, Jude! When Mark and I did our first RV trip together in 2005 – 2006, in Mexico and Central America, we jokingly said we’d look out for the perfect place to live. We never found it, after a year of “keeping an eye out”. It doesn’t exist. Too crowded, too humid, too many bugs, too few conveniences, the “wrong” language, too much wind, too chilly… Of course, many places have advantages as well, but year-round bliss is tough. I think the perfect lifestyle (if we ever “settle”) would be six months in a northern region (summer) and six months down south somewhere (winter). Or, like you guys did/do: move a lot and have a taste of everything. 🙂
July 9, 2018 at 09:41
So I am curious as to whether you are going to continue the house sit thing or if you are thinking of a longer full-time Zesty living thing.
July 12, 2018 at 06:14
The longer full-time Zesty living thing, for sure. But, we hope to house sit once in a while, when all the stars align. It all depends on the destinations available, the assignments offered (we will be more picky from now on), our travel exhaustion and our “need” to be surrounded with pets. 🙂