Betty & Bob
Married over 40 years, we are a professional couple with extensive travel experience. Bob retired from his career as a US Navy Supply Corps officer and recently retired again after an additional 15 years as a manager in logistics, material management, and contract negotiation with overseas vendors. Bob has recently found a new calling, as the handler half of two animal--assisted therapy teams with our own pets. Betty is a college professor of English, still teaching full-time but about to retire. We have three grown, married children and one granddaughter.
Having traveled far and wide and lived in other countries (Ecuador, Japan, Philippines, Mexico), we have an insatiable desire to see as much of the world as possible—near and far. We’ve become strong proponents of the Slow Travel movement, possibly as a result of having been lucky enough to live for longer periods in many locations. Our greatest delight, through house exchanges and longer-term vacation rentals, is to be able to shop at the local grocery store, eat in restaurants, take leisurely day trips to nearby places off the beaten track, take walks in the countryside, make friends with neighbors (and owners), and truly feel like a part of a new community and culture.
Our previous home exchanges have been on the outskirts of London, the north of England, northern Ireland, Scotland, Holland, East Anglia, Norway, Sweden, and France. During those exchanges we mostly took care of our hosts' cats but were lucky enough to have bunnies in Holland and a very sweet, shy golden retriever in Norway. We really enjoy the animal companionship when we travel without our own pets. In June 2011 we had a delightful house-sit in the Cotswolds with two dogs, a cat, and chickens. More recently, our house-sits have included a farm in the Atlantique-Pyrenees (a dog, three cats, and an unexpected hedgehog in the garden), and another farm near Philadephia with three (now six!) goats, about a dozen hens, one very reliable laying duck (one egg every single day!), two dogs, two cats, a tank of tropical fish, a pond of koi, and a tadpole. We've had delightful times with all the animals and look forward to more pet-sitting adventures.
We also have a Honda CRV and a Scion hatchback to exchange for those who need them.
Having traveled far and wide and lived in other countries (Ecuador, Japan, Philippines, Mexico), we have an insatiable desire to see as much of the world as possible—near and far. We’ve become strong proponents of the Slow Travel movement, possibly as a result of having been lucky enough to live for longer periods in many locations. Our greatest delight, through house exchanges and longer-term vacation rentals, is to be able to shop at the local grocery store, eat in restaurants, take leisurely day trips to nearby places off the beaten track, take walks in the countryside, make friends with neighbors (and owners), and truly feel like a part of a new community and culture.
Our previous home exchanges have been on the outskirts of London, the north of England, northern Ireland, Scotland, Holland, East Anglia, Norway, Sweden, and France. During those exchanges we mostly took care of our hosts' cats but were lucky enough to have bunnies in Holland and a very sweet, shy golden retriever in Norway. We really enjoy the animal companionship when we travel without our own pets. In June 2011 we had a delightful house-sit in the Cotswolds with two dogs, a cat, and chickens. More recently, our house-sits have included a farm in the Atlantique-Pyrenees (a dog, three cats, and an unexpected hedgehog in the garden), and another farm near Philadephia with three (now six!) goats, about a dozen hens, one very reliable laying duck (one egg every single day!), two dogs, two cats, a tank of tropical fish, a pond of koi, and a tadpole. We've had delightful times with all the animals and look forward to more pet-sitting adventures.
We also have a Honda CRV and a Scion hatchback to exchange for those who need them.