Property
Caretaking: A Great Opportunity for Travelers & Expats
Caretaking
property has become an increasingly popular occupation in recent years,
articularly for travelers. Gary Dunn, Publisher of The Caretaker Gazette,
has been esearching the field and an emerging trend for folks who
are looking to live rent-free somewhere. He says, "Many people are discovering
that caretaking can be an interesting and varied "second life" profession,
offering unique rewards. People desiring a lifestyle hange, retirees seeking
a second career, and downsized corporate employees searching for new job
opportunities have discovered caretaking. " Many newcomers to the caretaking
field have spent their entire lives in cities or suburban areas.
They're motivated
by the desire to live a simple, rural life and enjoy the challenge of living
in harmony with nature.
According
to Dunn, "For those who desire a connection to the earth but don't
own land, caretaking is an ideal career." Caretaking can also be an
inexpensive way to experience life in a specific geographic area. Housing
is usually provided by the landowner, enabling the caretaker to live rent-free
without incurring rent or mortgage obligations.
Dave and Sumana
Harrison McCollam left "fast track" careers to caretake a resort
property near Oaxaca, Mexico. The couple, in their fifties, explain,
"We had both just about had enough of ‘life in the fast lane' (and also
the not-so-fast lane) when we decided to make an extended trip through
Mexico." Of course, this necessitated many changes: Dave dissolving his
partnership of twenty-two years in a catering business in California, and
Sumana letting go of setting up accounting systems for small businesses.
After purchasing a small RV and modifying it to tow a 650 KLR Duo-Sport
Motorcycle (just perfect for Mexico), the couple headed south, at
that point not actually knowing that they would end up in Costa Rica.
They lingered in places like San Miguel de Allende, Lake Catemaco, Palenque
and Campeche, and headed for Tulum on the Yucatan peninsula from where
they were invited to Costa Rica. Dave and Sumana agreed that, with
its beauty, charm, and friendliness, Mexico was the country that attracted
them the most.
The couple
recalls, "During this process we serendipitously discovered The Caretaker
Gazette through Arthur Frommer's Travel Guide on the Internet, naturally
doing a search to see if there was anything available in Mexico. We immediately
subscribed to the Gazette." Lo and behold, in their first issue
of the Gazette, the couple found a position was available at Casa Raab
in Oaxaca, as managers of a 40-acre property in the mountains about 20
minutes from this beautiful colonial city. The absentee owner, who lives
in Washington State, needed a couple to care for the villa that has been
in his family for over 30 years. The property has two rental units.
One, Casa
Grande, has a huge dining/living room and four large bedrooms that
open out onto a large veranda and the swimming pool. The other, La Casita,
is a self-contained two bedroom guest house.
In all, the
homes can accommodate up to 15 guests at a time. Locations and responsibilities
for caretaker jobs are as varied as the landowners and caretakers themselves.
Caretakers may be single persons, couples or families. Landowners are not
always individuals: nature retreats, ecological preserves, camps, and national
or state forests and parks also employ caretakers. According to Dunn, "Depending
upon the position and its location, caretaking can give one an opportunity
to work in dozens of areas, among them: gardening, resort management, and
animal care."
For Dave and
Sumana one of the benefits of caretaking the Mexican resort property are
the wonderful guests they have met. They note, "People are in Oaxaca because
they are enchanted with its colonial charms, because they know that this
is the place for folk art, because of its interesting and varied cuisine,
its ruins, markets and indigenous people. And guests come to Casa Raab
for the tranquility, the air of stepping back in time, the hospitality,
comfort and cuisine. We have had writing groups, photography groups and
just plain ‘shopping groups'. The staff has been looking after guests
for years and their needs are always taken care of, whether it's a special
dish or calling a taxi for a town trip.
" Dave and
Sumana explain, "The atmosphere here is one of rest and relaxation, and
we need to gauge where the guests are coming from in relation to activities.
Some guests want to see all the sites of Oaxaca in which case, Dave
and the Casa Raab vehicle are hired to go to ruins like Monte Alban,
or to one of the several surrounding craft villages. Other guests want
to stay here, relax by the pool and be pampered. Mostly, the guests want
some social interaction with us, but we also know that they are here for
other reasons, and we stay in the background if that is what is equired."
A caretaker
may live alone on the property of an absentee landowner. In this situation,
the ability to function independently and fulfill one's responsibilities
without daily guidance and instruction from the landowner are important
qualifications. Although a love of nature, solitude, and the simple life
is important, having hobbies and interests that can be pursued in what
are often remote areas is extremely helpful.
Autonomous
caretaker positions may include winterkeepers at lodges and camps,
managers for "gentleman" farmers and ranchers, or caretakers
of resort properties during off seasons.
Alternatively,
a caretaker may live and work with a landowner on a day-to-day basis. Depending
upon the length and closeness of the relationship that develops between
landowner and caretaker, these positions sometimes lead to partnership
arrangements. Landowners may be homesteaders who are seeking a person to
join them and participate in their efforts, retirees who need an extra
pair of hands to help them out on their property, or farmers and ranchers
requiring general and specialized workers. Other caretaking positions,
such as those located on resorts, nature preserves, or hunting and fishing
lodges, require frequent interaction with guests. According to Dave and
Sumana, "Oddly enough, when guests are here is when we have time to relax,
otherwise we're overseeing projects related to water and wells, electricity,
decorating, construction and gardening. Generally, Dave oversees construction
and maintenance, and Sumana the garden and household staff. Both are available
for guests, sometimes acting as drivers and tour guides, or simply sharing
their knowledge of the local brew, mezcal, which is made from an agave
similar to that of tequila.
On the landowner
side, Dunn reports that a growing number of farmers, ranchers, homesteaders,
camps and nature preserves are utilizing the services of qualified caretakers.
"The average age of American farmers is 53. There are a large number over
65 who will retire and have no sons or daughters who want to take over.
They are increasingly
turning to caretakers to maintain their land." The benefits are significant:
a good caretaker can ensure that property is cared for even when the owner
is no longer able to do it himself — the land is preserved for future generations
rather than being sold off to developers. Dunn says, "In most cases,
the landowner's unique body of knowledge about the land and wealth of experience
are passed onto others."
While many
landowners seek experienced caretakers with specific skills, others are
willing to take on and train people with general backgrounds. As with most
other occupations, such traits as honesty, common sense, and flexibility
are key prerequisites. Many retirees find that caretaking evolves into
a fulltime second career. With solid backgrounds in caretaking and excellent
references from previous employers, they are in great demand by landowners
and are able to find positions throughout the U.S. and abroad.
On a day-to-day
basis, Sumana explains, "Living here is like taking care of your own
home. You see what needs to be done and you do it." She adds, "It is
hard to say what our daily activities are because each day is different.
We generally go into Oaxaca city to shop and do email two or three times
a week.
This usually
includes a stop in the Zocalo (main plaza) for lunch and a bit of
people watching." According to the couple, "Mexico is very special.
We continually experience the friendliness and basic kindness of its people,
who generally have less and give more. As we slow down there is a very
nice sense of being connected. Here, in this village, it is like turning
back the clock 100 years. The barnyard animals that are present, the lack
of telephones ringing, no great plans or social schedules. Our door is
open. We always have time for a visit."
