See the world from a living-room window

“Why don’t you trade houses for vacations,” a colleague suggested at our regular weekly brunch gathering.

After a brief look at the bane and benefits of swapping homes with someone in the region we’d like to visit with someone who’d like to spent some time in our area, the conversation moved toward house-sitting.

Why not see the world from the living room window of a house, or apartment, of folks who want to travel but worry about leaving their home and valuables and pets unattended?

Seniors with time to spare can learn the rudiments right around their neighborhood. Post notices on a few nearby supermarket bulletin boards, and perhaps an online note with Craig’s list, that you’re available to house sit for a fee.

You may not have to move into the home. Just make sure you take in the mail, water the plants, feed the cat, see to it that electrically-time lighting works on schedule, and check to make sure there are no water leaks, signs of break-ins or attempted break-ins.

You and the homeowner can negotiate how many hours a day or a week you will devote to these chores and set a price. Your rates can easily climb to $25, $50 or more a day.

Not only will this expand your experience and expertise in housesitting, it’ll also provide you with a list of references for prospective clients. When you start out without a reference pool you can offer character references provided by neighbors, your clergyman, or former employer.

You’ll have to decide what limits you wish to put in place.

Do you want to include caring for pets in your service? Will you do the house cleaning or do you want the homeowner to pay for a cleaning person?

Then you can search online for people who’d like someone to babysit a mansion by the Mediterranean, cottage in Canberra, bungalow in Bologna, or cabin in Canada. You can begin by typing “house sitting” in your favorite online search engine. One website, www.housecarers.com, charges an annual membership fee for information leading to assignments worldwide that allow you to “live rent free” as a house sitter.

There’ll be time between chores — keep in mind that you have to care for the residence and the resident’s property as you would your own — to immerse yourself in local living. And there’s no problem these days keeping in touch via cell phone and computer.