Hi! Jan & Gary here…(pictured with our very special “client”, Charlie Brown)!

We LOVE Vermont! Once retired, we implemented our plan to live a simple life! Our first 3 summers were spent volunteering as Camp Hosts at a Vermont State Park. The first (and then recurring) assignment: Button Bay State Park on Lake Champlain, Vergennes, Vermont. We lived in our 26′ “Born Free” RV on the Host site with full hookups and a spectacular view of the bay! We each put in 15 hours a week helping out around the park. Before the Memorial Day opening our days were spent mowing acres and acres of deep grass, as well as sprucing up the restrooms and cleaning out & stocking the storage rooms. Once the park opened we kept the restrooms sparkling clean and mowed the open areas and campsites as they were vacated. We worked with an amazing Park Staff as part of the team and enjoyed assisting campers and visitors as needed. Many friendships were made along the way…some of which will last a lifetime!

Our free time was spent biking, hiking, kayaking, eating Maple Creemees (ice cream!) and enjoying the great state of Vermont. Volunteers receive a free VIP pass to all the State Parks (including camping!), as well as many museums and attractions.

During the winter months, using Trustedhousesitters.com, we found wonderful folks in need of pet sitters. Some sits were long-term & others just a week or two. In each case we fell in love with these special fur babies and came to love them as our own.

In the closing months of the 2018 summer season we came to the realization that, given our extended winter pet-sitting plans, it was time to downsize from our beloved Born Free motor home. The “Universe lined up” with a wonderful buyer, and we found the travel trailer of our dreams…a 13’ Scamp just a week later! “Champy Scampy” allowed us to travel lightly to our pet sits and enjoy camping in between them.

UPDATE: Fast forward to 2025…we continue to enjoy our THS travels, now with many wonderful long term pet sits. Our repeat homeowners have become lifelong friends and their fur babies are like our very own Grand-Dogs and Cats! Life is good!