It’s been almost a year since fires ravaged the North Bay, almost a year since the flames forced me to evacuate one of my first housesitting jobs in Sonoma, and almost a year since these same fires devastated the Santa Rosa suburb known as Coffey Park. Yes, much time has passed, but I can sense emotions here are still raw, especially with the 2018 summer fire season ramping up.
Admittedly, I was a little nervous to sit in Coffey Park; I wasn’t sure what to expect. Before the fires, I was unfamiliar with this Santa Rosa suburb. It was only after images of the devastated neighborhood appeared again and again on the local news that I became aware of Coffey Park.
Sadly, I had to drive past many barren lots and scorched trees to reach the house. While it was definitely a dismal sight, I was happy to see a flurry of construction activity. New houses were going up on every block and infrastructure was being repaired. As with the housesit in Cobb where fires destroyed most of that neighborhood a couple years back, it’s amazing to see the resilience of both man and nature alike. Where there is a will there is a way.
The house in which I sat was located in a cul-de-sac at the very back of the neighborhood, surrounded by other homes that were spared by the flames. The home had a lovely backyard with vertical veggie garden and outdoor patio seating. It was just the quiet, cozy place I needed after my last 4-5 months of traveling. The only thing better than the space was the sweet, chill, beautiful cat I had the pleasure of watching. Thankfully she warmed up to me towards the end of my sit and gave me some nighttime cuddles too!
Happily, I get to sit here again this November – can’t wait! I look forward to seeing my feline friend again and seeing all the construction progress.
Duties:
– Care for 1 cat
– Water Plants/Veggies
– Gather Mail
Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:
– Fresh homegrown veggies are the best! The owners said I was welcome to help myself to any veggies from the garden which was much appreciated 🙂
Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:
– None! This was a very easy, stress-free sit!
