Hi friends! Thanks for stopping by to read BC Nomad Life: Is it Right for Me?
I wear many hats when I self-describe. Some of them are in the tagline above for The Lifestyle Digs: adventurer, dog wrangler, and wannabe cowgirl. In the past two years I more commonly refer to myself as a nomad and international housesitter.
Those of you who have been following my journey know I put a lot of thought into becoming a nomad, about a year and a half of loose planning which tightened up in the 4 months before I retired.
Actually. Longer than that. Very loose, loose planning back in 2020 when I wrote about how low income single women will find it very difficult to retire in Canada. Or the USA.
I feel like I’m finally living my best life. When I retired I did a few housesits in England and then headed to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago. I returned to England to housesit and my life took on a new direction when I decided to volunteer with animals on a small Caribbean island.
2024 was amazing for me, which can best be summed up in this year end video I posted on YouTube.
Back where I started
I didn’t really see this one coming, but I’m back where I started!
And just how did this happen? I’m supposed to be having an amazing life travelling the world.
Let’s blame this little guy.
My horse, Cajun, is in boarding at a ranch for retired horses. He had medical issues beginning in March, 2024 that plagued him throughout the year. It took an emotional toll on me. I knew I had to return to Canada to see my little guy.
I found a housesit in Toronto to begin in September and stayed in Ontario for the rest of 2024. That got me closer to my horse. I returned to BC where I had a housesit lined up very close to where I last lived.
Further to Cajun’s medical issues, it is now suspected to be allergies. Maybe the hay. It’s being controlled with medication.
BC nomad planning
In my posts about Finding Freedom and my 2024 financial check in I mentioned my plans to return to British Columbia and become a nomad there for awhile.
I can be a nomad on four wheels. That means I need to buy a car.
Buying a car is not ideal. With a car comes all the related expenses: gas, insurance, and maintenance. But it also gives me a place to live and keep my stuff. Not to mention easier to pack around my stuff. I keep getting rid of stuff and my suitcase never seems to get any lighter!
Follow my YouTube channel for updates on my car life.
Housesitting in BC
Right now my plan is to housesit around British Columbia, using my car to drive to each location, and for camping inbetween housesits.
And how are my BC housesits lining up?
Pretty good!
I am booked until the end of September. I’ve decided to hold October open for the homeowner where I’m currently housesitting because she will probably need to travel to Europe then.
Tentatively I have a snowbird booked for mid-November through March, 2026. They’re heading to their house in Mexico for the winter. We’ve chatted on the phone and I’m going to visit them in person in May. I’m open to accepting the housesit.
That being said… the homeowners where I housesat in Folkestone, England are also interested in having me back this winter.
The glitch is they have their house up for sale. They still have their house in London, so it can be one or the other. Either would be fine with me.
And why do I want to go back to England?
A few reasons. I want to get back to Scotland and plant some crocuses and maybe daffodils on my granny’s grave.
And I still haven’t gotten myself to Turkey. So being in London would put me in a place where I have a few flights to choose from to get there. I’m open to it. But maybe they’ll cancel their vacation this year.
And what if neither of these housesits materializes?
I’m sure I’ll find another housesit. There will always be another housesit!
South American dreams
My plan was to travel to South America in early 2024. I want to visit Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Costa Rica, and I’m open to travel in other South American countries.
That got sidetracked when I headed to Mayreau Island to be a volunteer.
My dreams to visit South America have not left me. I’m still planning, wish listing hotels, and bookmarking websites for horseback riding and other activities.
My South America adventure has been on the back burner for over a year, but getting warmer. If the snowbird housesit doesn’t go ahead, I might fly south this November. If the snowbird housesit is a go, then I will head to South America in late March or April.
Yup – just when they’re heading into their winter!
Always on a quest to find the place where I will become an expat.
BC nomad life: is it right for me
Well, you know, if it wasn’t for my horse, I would not be back in BC. Or at least not this soon!
However, it’s a decision I made to be closer to him for my emotional well being.
Ever since I came back to BC, I’ve been restless. I’m a nomad. I’m used to moving around, discovering new things, and not being tied down with financial commitments.
Currently I’m in an area that I know really well. I find it boring. The good news is I’m heading to other parts of the province that I haven’t spent as much time in, so adventure awaits me!
My plans can always change, but right now it looks like being a BC nomad means I will housesit for awhile, like 9 months to a year. And then I will take off and travel for 6 months or so.
I will spend time with my horse before and after my international travels. For my mental health, this seems to be the best fit for the next few years.
My little guy turns 21 in May. Those of you who are not horse people might be wondering about the lifespan of a horse. Barring any illness or injury, a horse can live into their 30s.
Let me pay tribute to some amazing horses that were with me for way too short a time.
Mark passed away at age 26 from lung cancer.
Lucky passed away suddenly at age 28. Unknown why.
And my heart horse, Whistler, passed at age 29 from colic.
I’ve always said my passions in life are horses and travel. For the most part the horses have grounded my travel plans. So for right now, BC nomad life offers me freedom. I can travel throughout the province and do some slow travel in other parts of the world at the same time.
Only time will tell if BC nomad life will be an adventure or a hardship.
xoxo Cheryl
Published by Cheryl @ The Lifestyle Digs on March 21, 2025.
