Tell Us Your Housesitting Tales

It started as a lark. Some acquaintances needed someone to watch their home during a month-long vacation. You needed cash, so you housesat for them. You enjoyed it: the free lodging, the extra cash, the illusion of living in an actual home without the responsibilities of, say, a mortgage. From there, you dived deep into a transient but somehow domesticated lifestyle.

If you've ever moonlighted or made a living as a housesitter, or enlisted the services of a housesitter, we want to hear from you. Stories, anecdotes, do's and don'ts, and other tips on the subject of housesitting will be appreciated. E-mail zakd@washpost.com (right now!), and put "housesitting" in the subject line.