The doctor's home, a two-bedroom ranch-style house, is located high above a scenic lagoon with a beautiful view of the ocean. It was very comfortable for Captain Jack whose main responsibility was just to be a presence at the house and property to prevent any theft or vandalism and take care of any maintenance problems. He built his own boat dock down in the lagoon for his 30-foot SeaRay powerboat. Captain Jack usually received what he needed from the supply boats that came to the island twice a month. Sometimes he would fly over to Honduras with his twin engine Cessna or he would take his powerboat across the gulf to the mainland to pick up supplies.

Every August, the doctor would come down from the U.S. At that time, Captain Jack would take his vacations in his powerboat or fly his plane back to the states for some visiting. After more than a decade on Roatan, Captain Jack thought it was time to give up his idyllic lifestyle and start traveling again. Ever the spirited traveler, with no thoughts of slowing down, whatever Captain Jack decides to do next, he is certain to end up making an interesting and exciting adventure of it.

Closer to home, Marty and Kathie retired from their own business to caretake a resort property on Clear Lake, in northern California. Seeking what they describe as, "a definite lifestyle change," the couple responded to an ad in The Caretaker Gazette to caretake Honeymoon Cove Resort. The Resort with 500 feet of private beach frontage on Clear Lake boasts the largest private beach in Lake County, California - and the cleanest air in all of California.

The resort is located on a remote peninsula, twenty minutes from town. The property itself contains five rental units, including two very old, rustic, log cabins, and three mobile units that sleep up to ten people each. Kathy and Marty, who have been happily married for thirty years, were able to provide the owner with solid references from family, friends, and business associates. The owner is happy with what Kathie and Marty have done for the resort, and the guests have all made favorable comments about their hospitality. The couple installed a spa on a deck overlooking the lake and enjoys the ever-changing conditions of the water and the surroundings. On many moonless nights, they have enjoyed a warm soak, watching thousands of stars, in complete solitude. They have not had time to miss being homeowners yet and note "It's kind of nice to have someone else pay for problems that need to be fixed, and the landscaping that we have put in." 

The couple enjoys interacting with the guests and has made many new friends who plan to return to Honeymoon Cove again this year. Kathie reports, "Our favorite part of being here is the interaction with the guests. We have been invited in for cocktails, gourmet dinners, and barbecues, helped the guests' children fish from the pier, and shared desserts on the barbecue lawn while watching the fireworks over the lake on the 4th of July. We have received hugs, bottles of wine, dinner offers, and further correspondence form many of the guests."

The couple notes that their lifestyle has definitely changed and they certainly have enough to do to keep them busy. They also have time to pursue their passions. These include singing, cooking, reading, bird watching, hiking, boating, water-skiing, fishing, and working with kids. They say, "We are happy that we made this radical and drastic choice at this time in our lives, and hope to find a way to continue caretaking in the future."

More and more retirees are discovering that property caretaking can enable them to live in a variety of locales. They have found that it is a great way to get to know an area prior to making a long-term commitment. To learn more about the property caretaking field, and all the rent-free housesitting assignments available worldwide, go to The Caretaker Gazette website.