About this assignment
Start date: between April 26 – April 28, 2022
End date: 2-3 weeks later, somewhat flexible
We are seeking two people (either a couple or friends traveling together) to care for our two dogs and our home while we are away for 2-3 weeks.
Our dogs, Lillie & Daniel, are both medium-size Mexican street dog rescues, ages about 3 & 4. Lillie is a three-legger and is friendly when she is allowed to meet new people at her own pace. Once she knows you, she is loving and affectionate (and spoiled) and will sleep in the bed with you. Daniel (Dan, Dan the man, Daniel Boone, Dan d. Lion, etc.) can be energetic but is usually mellow and affectionate (and will sleep in his own bed).
Our house is about 250m from the beach in the small fishing village of Barra de Potosí, Guerrero. Barra de Potosí is about 20km south of the city of Zihuatanejo and about 10km south of the Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa (ZIH) airport.
Our 2-year-old house has two floors. The bedroom and a full bathroom are on the first floor. A fully equipped kitchen, sitting area, outdoor balcony porch, laundry, half-bath, and hammock area are on the second floor. From the second floor, you can catch a glimpse of the ocean, lagoon, and Guamilule. There is also an outside bathroom & shower in the backyard.
The house does not have air-conditioning but there are lots of ceiling fans. We live here year-round and find the house comfortable without a/c.
Also located on the property is a bar that we own and run during the high season. It will be closed but you can use the space while you are here (including the only tv on the property). The bar also has a backup solar system so, in the event of a power outage, you will still have electricity in the bar.
Wi-Fi is available throughout the property through multiple access points. The Internet service is fast enough for you to be able to stream movies, participate in video calls, etc.
Our vehicle will be available for your use while you are here. We require proof of a valid driver’s license.
Within a block or two of our house, there are three small stores and a fruit/vegetable stand. Also within walking distance are restaurants and other places to shop for things you might need.
Responsibilities of the Housesitter
The most important requirement is to give lots of time, love, and attention to Lillie & Dan. They will also need a 30-minute (or longer) leashed walk each morning. Their feeding routine is simple – just some dry kibble that they graze on throughout the day. We keep the bowls full, and they do not overeat. Also, three or four water bowls around the property need to be kept clean and full.
Outside the house, you will need to be able to perform some basic house and garden chores including filling the roof-top water tanks (tinacos) every day or two for your domestic water supply, watering plants, raking, etc. All of this we would show you before we leave. We will leave a more detailed house manual with you too.
Inside, we just ask that you keep the house clean and tidy to avoid attracting any bugs or critters.
The ideal candidate(s) will be comfortable holding a screwdriver and wrench and be able to troubleshoot any minor issues that come up. In the event of something that you can’t troubleshoot, our English-speaking neighbor is available to help.
What to consider before you apply
Our home is in a small, friendly fishing and tourism-based village that is a popular seasonal destination for many Canadians and US-Americans, but (except for the neighbor we mentioned above) all of our neighbors are Mexican who speak no English or limited English. A little Spanish goes a long way for visitors to Barra de Potosí, but you will be welcomed to the community regardless as long as you are friendly, polite, & respectful.
Barra de Potosí is a vibrant village and, as such, it can sometimes be loud with the sounds of life – kids playing, roosters, cats, and dogs; cars, buses, trucks, and motorcycles; music, talking, and laughter. By 9 or 10 at night, it quiets down so that you can often hear the sounds of nature and crashing waves from the bedroom.
There is intermittent cell signal at the house (at best). Most people here use WhatsApp to communicate over Wi-Fi. There is a landline in the house and bar that you can use to call anywhere in Mexico, the US, or Canada toll-free.
Power-outages can and do occur. Usually for between a few minutes and a couple of hours but sometimes longer. Because we have a backup solar system, you should always have electricity but will want to conserve it if the power is out.
As mentioned above, there is no air conditioning. Depending on the climate you are used to and your sensitivity to heat, you will want to seriously consider how comfortable you will be living in our home even though we find it comfortable.
We are near the ocean and a large lagoon, so it can be buggy. Our house is reasonably bug-free with screens on all the windows, and this will not be the buggiest part of the year, but again, if you are sensitive to bug-bites, you will want to seriously consider how comfortable you will be living in our home.
The outside shower and shower in the casita were you will be staying do not have hot water. There is a hot water shower in the bar bathroom although we never use it.
We would like to overlap your arrival with our departure by 1 or 2 full days so we get to know each other a little and more importantly introduce you to Dan & Lillie, show you where we walk them, and go through the dog, house, and garden chores together.