House Sitting in Alaska

For Selena Dittberner, being self educated at home provided her with opportunities, inspiration, and creativity to grow. As they were growing up, Selena and her brother, Forest, both talked of traveling and exploring the world beyond. Before long, they were out taking road trips, visiting all kinds of places across the country, and meeting many amazing people. "I've always wanted to be able to see and really experience a place in its culture, the life styles, the landscapes and the wildlife. To take pictures and really get to know what the world has to offer, while not having to spend a ton of money. What a better way to do that than to housesit or caretake? You get to travel around the world and get a taste of everything, while you have a place to stay," says Selena. "When I finally replied to an ad in The Caretaker Gazette (after subscribing for several years) regarding a housesitting position in Alaska, I jumped on it. And it seems to have just fallen into place. I was totally meant to come here and am grateful I responded to that Gazette Help-Wanted ad," she says.

Selena is currently housesitting a lovely rustic old log cabin in the woods of the Matanuska Valley, in Knik, south central Alaska. Her responsibilities include taking care of nine husky dogs and two cats while the owner is away for six weeks. The property is within walking distance of the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, in what has been called the "Dog Mushing Center of the World" in reference to the many dog mushers that have lived in this area. "I always knew one day I would go up to the north land of Alaska to see the glaciers, the wildlife, the mountains and experience the midnight sun!" Selena delightedly says. She was thrilled when she found out she would get to not only experience all that, but also get to play with nine Siberian huskies (which are her favorite kind of dog)! "One might think taking care of nine dogs is a lot of work and responsibility - it's a lot of responsibility for sure, but as for the work - no way! It's actually a lot of fun! Once you are able to establish the connection with the dogs that you are the alpha of the pack, so to speak, you are the one that feeds them food and the one that gives them love - it's then like we are all one - one family," Selena comments.

According to Selena, "Alaska is one of the most beautiful and photogenic places I have been. By housesitting, I already came here with a connection. It's all about making the connections with people. The homeowner here had a list of friends that I was able to connect with." And, through them, Selena has already done more things than most people who actually live there do. "I've been kayaking in lakes and streams that were in the arms of snow-capped mountains. Mountain-biking up into remote little gold mine valleys, where the view was so priceless that my camera couldn't even do it justice. Hiking along rivers, lakes, glaciers, valleys and mountain tops. Adventures I'll always remember. To see the awe-inspiring colors and size of a glacier while the glacier is melting right before my eyes is something everyone ought to see."

Selena explains that she would like to be able to do more housesitting and possibly caretake, all over the world, so she may get to explore the world through her viewfinder. She adds, "Being in the mountains is so lovely. I'd like to spend some more time in Colorado and Idaho to name just a few in this country. Thailand, India, South America and parts of Europe are a few more out of the country that I have my eye set on."