How It All Began

Here we are.  We are about to embark on a trip of a lifetime.  Chuck and I are becoming housesitters/petsitters from May through November this year.  And all this will happen in the United Kingdom.  It's amazing how this has all come together.  Let me begin at the beginning. . .

Because we love cruising and cruise ships, we found a 14-day transatlantic cruise that sails from Tampa to Southampton, UK at the end of April.  We thought that we might visit Stonehenge, see the sights in London, then cross the English Channel to visit Normandy.  That was the plan.  Then, while on a cruise last September, we had the opportunity to book another transatlantic cruise, this one is 21 days, from Venice, Italy to Miami December 1.   I was checking the cost of airfare from the UK to Atlanta and from Atlanta to Venice every couple of days to find the cheapest fares. Chuck found a website for pet/housesitting.  Pet/housesitting involves staying in someone's house (at no cost to us!) and taking care of their pets (that sometimes includes chickens, ducks, and horses among other farm animals) while the homeowners go on vacation (or holiday, as they say in the UK). 

We felt like an extended stay in a true United Kingdom family's home would allow us to totally immerse into the British culture.  Long walks with the dogs, sightseeing in a variety of locations (11 confirmed housesits throughout the UK), and interacting with neighbors in the hood, visits to the local pubs and shopping venues would allow us to do just that:  total immersion! 

The plan was hatched.  We are still in good health and traveling overseas is something we have talked about for quite sometime.  We decided to spend the time between the first transatlantic cruise that docks in Southampton May 14 and the second transatlantic cruise that departs Venice, Italy December 1 HOUSESITTING IN THE UK! Well, to be completely honest, we thought we would apply for housesitting positions throughout Europe, but we ended up booking all our housesits in the UK and WE ARE EXCITED!  That's almost 7 months away from home.  Away from friends, from Monday night Trivia at Wings and Things, and for me, away from my craft room and Stampin' Up! Oh, yeah, how do you pack for a trip that is 7 months long?