This newsletter has been in operation since 1983, and with only a subscription, it hooks you up with some of the sweetest house sitting opportunities around the world.

"You can enjoy rent-free living as a property caretaker in desirable locations. Positions on estates, mansions, farms, ranches, resort homes, retreat centers, camps, hunting and fishing lodges, vacation homes, private islands, and any other kind of property imaginable are listed in The Gazette."

Learn how to be a real hardworking hippie. Receive world wide opportunities on organic farms with the help of WWOOF. While volunteering your time, you will get all of your rent and meals for free.

Like Caretaker Gazette, but for free and not as big-time. You make a profile and someone in need of a house sitter makes a profile, and then the website sends you to them. It's much like an online dating service, except for houses and people.

This is a network of people who open up their homes to travelers in need of a comfy series of pillows while on the road of adventure.

Like couch surfing.... I mean, Exactly like couch surfing. To be a part of this you have to be a host as well. If you don't offer your hospitality up within six months you get the boot.

This is an online listing of host organic farms, non-organic farms, farmstays, homestays, ranches, lodges, B&B, inns, backpackers hostels and even sailing boats who invite volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation (board and lodging).

Their main locations are in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Canada, USA, and others like Zimbabwe.

This is a smaller version of Help index but has several opportunities for pay in Australia and Europe. It is free and has a easy way to find postings.

This is the largest organization of work travel or free loading on the web. Or so they claim.

Just Do It

Alright, get off the couch and transfer your hind end to another couch across the world. Life is an adventure right?

"With every true friendship we build the basis for world peace..."

It has a Mediterranean climate and is a beautiful setting. Huntington Beach is purely idyllic and is dependant mostly on tourism of which it receives 11 million tourists that flock to this area throughout summer and almost every weekend. It has eight miles of virtually unbroken beach. And is the largest beach on the West Coast. Plus it supports 195,000 residents.

Things to Do:

It has a myriad of recreational facilities, that include one of the largest piers in the world, parks, riding stables, marina, wildlife preserve, a 8 mile bike trail, inline skating, jogging and walking trails next to the sea. And as well as the beautiful beaches it hosts the US Open of Surfing, and the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball, and as if that was not enough it also hosts the Van's World Championship of Skateboarding.

Life in Huntington Beach:

Could not be better it is one of the ten safest cities; there is a fine arts centre and a playhouse that gives the residents a vast variety of arts. There are many museums that can keep you entertained for hours. Forty miles south of Los Angeles, and within easy distance of Long Beach and Orange County.

History:

1895 saw the Southern Pacific Railway lay a line to Huntington Beach. In 1909 the first school was built, the 1920s saw oil discovered and it turned the area into a boomtown. In the 50s and 60s it had become one of the fastest growing cities in the country. It has 200,000 inhabitants and is known worldwide for it's surfing. The pier which when first built was 1,000 foot long made from timber, storms nearly wrecked the pier but the inhabitants voted to build a new one. It was to be the longest and highest of its era at a stunning 1,350 feet long. Eventually another 500 feet would lengthen the pier.

Lucky Residents:

It has been named as One of The Best Cities to Live in, offering it's Residents great weather, a variety of stores from small to large, good jobs, very low in crime, boat marinas and parks and a great health system. It has been said that it is a truly great place to bring up children. Also voted as one of the safest cities in the U.S.

Housing:

There is however only a small amount of rental properties for the low income family, although the council does not have many low income properties it has made an agreement with local private owners to help the low income families rent a property.