This sounds awesome! Admittedly, it seems like it would be an awkward lifestyle to live, depending on how far apart the jobs are.

This looks interesting for a writer or someone whose work is very seasonal, or perhaps someone who managed to retire young. One of the excerpted listings was scary, though... September-May on a "self-sufficient" Aleutian homestead? I'm thinking that's NOT the season I'd want to hang out in the Aleutians, which is why the owner wants someone else to do it.

This sounds like the perfect job for people who like to pull "geographicals"

But still, I wonder what the average pay is for a traveling caretaker?

This does sound like a really great idea if you're single. I don't think homeowners would want couples living in, and taking care of their homes.

It's basically like employing hired help and in exchange, letting them live in the house. And presumably, the people who would hire this kind of help have the money for high-speed internet and those kinds of amenities so you wouldn't really be disconnected from the world.

What about your stuff? I mean, what about clothing and such? Do you just carry itall with you, Fedex it to your next destination, or what? I think though it would be kind of cool to do this, even if it was just one person, it would be difficult to have limited outfits because you couldn't carry much with you whenever you moved to a new home. And there's always the risk of lost packages. And you could never have a pet, which doesn't bother some people, but if you did at some point want to actually stay in a city permanently, and pay rent, what kind of a job would you get with your house sitting experience?

I think there was a documentary on this, didn't end well for Jack.

@sir_eccles: That was hilarious. I had to read it twice before I got it.

@pecan 3.14159265: It's popular with writers, artists, grad students writing dissertations, etc. Also handyman types, for whom it is relevant experience.

Couples are sometimes preferred ... more stable, less need for partying with strangers in your home. :) Depends on the situation.

Some people put their stuff in storage, some leave it with a relative, and some don't own much stuff!

@pecan 3.14159265: Personally I imagine this kind of thing as being great for your single, connected man with few belongings (enough to keep in the equivalent of two duffel bags -- 2 changes of clothes, laptop, cell phone, wallet, toiletries, diary/address book and a few other sundry items). Probably a writer or a for-hire programmer, maybe a web designer or a graphical artist. These jobs would give the flexibility to move wherever you wished, and maybe the changes of scenery would help to keep you motivated and prevent distraction.

@sir_eccles: Bravo.

@GMFish: I read it twice. Care to explain it to me?

@Radi0logy:
Must it be a man?

@JohnQPublic: It was a "Shining" example of a comment.

@Radi0logy: I could see my hubby and I taking this up if our home city didn't have so many of our friends in it. If we were living in a city without our existing friends, it would be tempting as there wouldn't be a ton to hold us to it. But we both also really enjoy the work atmosphere, and the "daily grind" as it were. I've done plenty of freelance stuff in the past, but never in the place of a job. In the future, I could see myself being a professional freelancer, but I don't have the experience for that right now.

I imagine that homeowners would prefer slightly older (more mature) people as well, versus the 21 year old.

Just don't disturb the Master when he is away - he will be most displeased.

@sir_eccles:
Actually, this could be a reference to either The Shining (Jack Torrance caretaking the hotel off-season) or Fight Club (the narrator lived in an abandoned home and referred to himself as Jack's smirking revenge, Jack's raging bile duct, Jack's inflamed sense of rejection, etc.).

@GearheadGeek:

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

I don't know that I'd do something this drastic, but I am a pet sitter and I stay at peoples' homes, much in the way this article describes. It's a great fun job, but it is not always as glamorous as it seems. It's difficult having regular/semi-regular changes in routine, and the kinds of people who hire people like me/services like the one mentioned can be very difficult to deal with.

@tbax929: The only reason I specify man is that they would probably be more comfortable staying in strange places, under possibly questionable environments, and not worry as much about their safety or privacy. I can imagine a woman being photographed sleeping or showering/using the restroom, or even sexually assaulted, whereas a man probably would not face those same challenges.

But sure, if a lady is comfortable doing it then more power to em!

@NotChoinski: Yes!!!

@Cant_stop_the_rock:

Great King/Kubrick reference. :)

I would do it if I were twenty years younger. But now, I'm gettin' to be an old, crotchety creature of habit.

Get off my lawn!

@Cant_stop_the_rock: That was my first thought as well.

@GearheadGeek: Unless you're a polarbear like me and love the snow. Also, if it's "self-sufficient," it probably has some sort of solar or wind generating capability and a greenhouse. I'd do it.

Hmm might be something I could totally consider depending on the location, I'm clean and tidy and do a good job at yard work/upkeep of the house.

@Don't take anything aaron8301 says seriously: yeah, i read "self-sufficient" more like, "if you need it, you better bring it w/ you b/c there's no damn way anyone's gonna bring it".

I am suspicious of any job that requires a subscription.

@sonneillon: Valid point. Anything that requires me to pay cash upfront is a nono for me.

@slash128: Not to mention that the excerpt listings seem a little too good to be true... fishing off the porch? Keep all the gold found in the river? I'd be more inclined to sign up if there were a couple that just said "Two-story house on cul-de-sac in California suburbs"

@sonneillon: This publication has been around for at least a decade (oh, 1983 according to the article). My understanding has been that it costs money because they only want people who are serious about the ads, and don't want the info going to those who are merely curious. Kinda like subscriptions to dating services ... you can't get the real info unless you pay. The Gazette has long been mentioned in books/articles about frugality (The Tightwad's Gazette type of books). I think I got a sample issue years ago and always thought it'd be neat to try.