Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn
This is what the world needs now: two free-thinking “seasoned” Black women speaking their truth and inspiring others to do the same. Shaped by 45 years of friendship that began at the prestigious Brooklyn Technical High School through the Ivy League, medical school, marriages, divorces, triumphs, parenting queer children, life-threatening illness and many many amazing adventures. Each week, besties Leslie Osei-Tutu and Angella Fraser will push against boundaries in love, culture, careers, faith, politics and out-dated assumptions about women of a certain age. Remember, you’re never too old to change your mind…or your hair! (but more on that later :-)All views are our own and do not reflect the views of our institution/company. Information provided is not intended to serve as medical advice.
Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn
Angie Swipes Right to Date a City: LA
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Get out your travel docs because the Besties are taking you on a trip. Angella is beginning to realize her travel dreams of circling the world and ‘dating a city” by accepting a house-sitting opportunity on the West coast. Inspired by the Exodus Summit community and the chance to “bop around the world” (as Stephanie Perry puts it), she explains her excitement around using house and pet sitting as a chance to explore remote locations and scope out her future life living abroad.
In this episode Angella and Leslie discuss the logistics of such a move and some of the benefits that come with it- cultural immersion, living like a local and saving on the cost of luxury accommodations.
As usual, the Besties discussion turns comedic as Leslie recalls some of her international ‘adventures’- a terrifying horseback ride up a volcano in Guatemala and a recent trip to a rainforest in Costa Rica where she described thumb sized beetles flying around her head.
With plenty of humor, curiosity, and a touch of wanderlust, this episode is a vibrant invitation to consider the enriching world of house-sitting and the friendships it may forge along the way.
This episode and all previous episodes are available on YouTube. Please join our Besties Quad Squad as a Patreon subscriber at the $5 or $10 monthly level. You'll receive exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
Get Angie’s eBook: We’re Too Old for This Shit! The Inquisitive Older Woman’s Guide to Joy
Visit Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn website for behind-the-scenes extras.
Hello Ange.
Speaker 2Hello Leslie, how are you doing Really good, I'm so excited. I gotta tell you something. I know, but before we get way, over.
Speaker 1Listen, listen, you're so excited. Remember with the cartoons where somebody had the canary in his mouth and you see a couple of feathers and he's like, no, I don't know what you're talking about. So after I say welcome to another episode of Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn, we'll find out why you have feathers coming out of your mouth.
Speaker 2All right. So, yeah, welcome to our podcast. My name is Angella and that is my best friend of almost 50 years, leslie. We are two intellectually curious older Black women. We started this podcast to share all the things that we're learning about life, about ourselves, about others, things that get us really angry, things that make us want to be change agents in this world, and so we decided to bring it all to you in a podcast. So today I'm going to be talking about my new house sit. That just got confirmed, and Leslie has a lot of questions, so let me tell you what this is all about. So you guys know that Exodus Summit is something that Leslie and I have been looking at, interested in all the things I accumulated and I'm ready to go into next year with some travel, dating, some cities and so on, which is a community of Black women who are interested or have already moved abroad, either to take a career break or for a sabbatical or full time, and so I'm there, I'm there, I'm there.
Speaker 1So give me the link from house sitting to Exodus Summit. You see she doesn't have any patience.
Speaker 2She doesn't have any patience because I'm about to say it.
Speaker 1I hear that a lot actually about me.
Speaker 2I set it up, I set it up. Y'all know that I'm going to explain, that. I'm not just going to. Y'all know that Leslie don't know that for some reason she don't know she don't believe, but I do know.
Speaker 1What I do know is that you might walk around the block three times before that comes out. And this is only a two-hour podcast.
Speaker 2No, I know you have to go somewhere. This is, like you know, holiday time and I know you have things to do where this is, like you know, holiday time and I know you have things to do, Anyway. So many of the women in this group use house sitting for a variety of ways House sitting slash pet sitting or house slash pet sitting whichever you prefer. Yeah, or you can either put your house up to be sat in, or you can become a house slash pet sitter, and it's a great way to go to different parts of the world not having to pay for accommodations. But not only that, it's not just a money saver. It also allows you to live in communities where people actually live, instead of at a hotel or at some kind of resort or whatever.
Speaker 1You're like in it. That makes sense. I never thought about that. So you get to be a resident in a residential area a non-tourist area. Exactly, I like that.
Speaker 2Yeah, that makes a big difference. It's so great. And so for people like me who are going to, who is going to be doing some city dating in 2025, it's a great. It's a great avenue that can be used for that. So I had hoped to go abroad in December, but it just isn't going to work out. But I didn't want to lose the momentum.
Speaker 2I still want to know what house sitting feels like, pet sitting feels like and so on, and so I decided not to kind of say okay, I'll wait until January. I decided to look for some other sets and so I found the house set in LA and it's a great little dog, but but anyway, before I go into that, so I'm going to, so you the the way that to the process is, obviously, after you sign up, do all the background checks. By the way, thank you for leaving a reference for me. I know you paid me to do that see the place you want to go, the dates you want, and it also shows you which pets they have.
Speaker 2Right, I cannot do 13 cats, it's not my thing. I cannot do 13 cats. I can do maybe one cat, two cats pushing it for me, but I can do maybe three dogs if I really wanted to go to that place in that time. But this is the right time, the right place, the right pet. It's one dog. He's the cutest. I fell in love with him just from the pictures. Anyway, so you apply to the sit and the person who is who needs the sitter. They are allowed to review three candidates at a time, and so I was one of the three, so if I, if for some reason I didn't go through, you know they would get to add one more person.
Speaker 1I see, so they get to do three right before nobody.
Speaker 2So it allows three people to get properly vetted before you know. They're not going to have like 10 people waiting to see if they got it or not, that's the way the app works.
Speaker 1I see, I see Nice.
Speaker 2So we had a.
Speaker 1That's interesting.
Speaker 2I so good. So my sister and I had a video chat with the couple who have their house and their pet and it went great. Asked a lot of questions, both directions, and so excited because this is a part of the journey, you know, even though it's not abroad, it's making me get used to the idea.
Speaker 1Of being in different places of the travel being in different places. Yes, yeah, I can see that yes yes, yes, I'm not sure if that particular thing is for me.
Speaker 2Why wouldn't you think it was for you Like? What would make you not want to do it?
Speaker 1Well, you know that the whole, even Airbnb, gives me skeeves. I've only done it once in my life For some reason, and it was a great experience, but the idea of being in someone else's home just gives me pause. I feel more, not even a safety issue. It gives me pause, I feel more, not even a safety issue.
Speaker 2I think it might be cleanliness of sleeping in someone else's personal bed.
Speaker 1That gives me idea. Let me give you a little context.
Speaker 2What just happened to your? Yeah, my screen just went weird. I don't know what happened. Ooh, you broke it. Oh, but I thought Miss Mac, miss Mary Mac. So now I'm in a fuzzy, sepia tone. I thought.
Speaker 1Miss Mac, miss Mary Mac, you shut up, so now I'm in a fuzzy, sepia tone. You look like a wop-wop, I don't know.
Speaker 2This is really weird.
Speaker 1But anyway I have been you know as a physician on call. Sometimes we have to sleep in the hospital, of course.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1I do not sleep in the bed, I only sleep in the chair, I course, yeah, I do not sleep in the bed, I only sleep in the chair. I understand.
Speaker 2I think they're linked.
Speaker 1So the idea of sleeping in a bed that's not mine, I think, is a little weird. If it's not in a hotel, I don't know. So anyway.
Speaker 2So but, les, let me ask you Wouldn't you think there are many more people who are sleeping in that hotel bed? It is it. Wouldn't you think there are many more people who?
Speaker 1are sleeping at that hotel bed. It is. It doesn't make sense, oh, it's not Okay, it doesn't make, it's not, it's not logical. There's some cognitive dissonance there, but I don't know. I just I don't know.
Speaker 2Okay.
Speaker 1Maybe because I know what happens in my bed.
Speaker 2I'm like oh snap, Okay Got it. Got it, but I don't, you know, I don't think there are any residual things that you know can come up and jump you.
Speaker 1You have no idea what I'm talking about. I was just talking about eating oatmeal while I'm in the bed. I slept in that bed and I got pregnant. Yes, so so yeah. So so I would have to get over that barrier of being in a personal person space, right, I think that's what it is and, like I said, the one experience I had with an I actually had two with an Airbnb type thing was just perfectly fine and beautiful and lovely.
Speaker 2So you know, yeah, and I think so, I'm not wired the same. But the other thing is that I, if to go to a place in order to see if it's a place I could live, it actually wouldn't make sense for me to stay. You know, hotels are usually set apart, but that's what you just said Exactly. You said that it was. I mean the fact hotels are usually set apart, but that's what you just said Exactly. Yeah, you said that.
Speaker 1It was right. I mean the fact that these are residences and where a person who lives in the area would be. I really think that's one of the most attractive features of what you're doing, you know, yeah.
Speaker 2Yeah, and the other thing, you know, I really like the app. It does um a great deal of investigating the people who are who are on it um for you to become you feel qualified to sit. I feel safe and they have um insurance. If you have a certain level of um, I I'm, you know, like whatever the top level is, and so there are insurance. You know that, beyond what you may have if anything happens, if the pet does something to someone, else, what if Fifi doesn't like you?
Speaker 1Oh?
Speaker 2Well, here's the thing.
Speaker 1oh that fifi if it's like a chihuahua, that's what it would do. I've I've been watching a lot of little dog who's the guy who does it's oh yeah, yeah, yeah, um, yeah, caesar, caesar yeah, so I've been watching a lot of that.
Speaker 2No, that's not true, I have been, but not because of that. Did you see where the dog bit the hell out of him? Oh my gosh. Yes, and I love that he didn't even flinch.
Speaker 1That's because he was embarrassed. He knew the cameras were rolling. What he really wanted to say is get them. This dog, I'm out of here shoot him. But you know he couldn't say that because that's his brand, his like he pulls his arm out. I think he wants to say to the arm is gone leslie, you're like see why didn't you? Just say heal, I'm, I'm really done with you.
Speaker 2So the person who's the pet owner has to disclose about their pet. I guess, some people can handle rowdy pets.
Speaker 1They have to say just like anything else.
Speaker 2You know this is your reputation. You can get kicked off this thing if you ever want to have anyone else sit.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, right, right, it makes sense, sure it's kind of baked in, and there's some people who actually have like rescue dogs meaning they have like 13 dogs, and I know some people would love that. You know to, you know they have an area and so on. It's not for me or you maybe, but some people would really enjoy living in a rural area and looking after dogs. If that is your looking after rescue dogs, if that is your thing you know, and then you go jump in the adjoining pool and you know, live your life.
Speaker 2I see, I see.
Speaker 1So there are certain requirements, Like they say oh, this dog may need medication once a day.
Speaker 2Exactly, or he gets fed twice a day, exactly.
Speaker 1Or he likes to be alone. Under no circumstances do you give him this.
Speaker 2Try to get him from under the bed Right. Don't put your hand under.
Speaker 1There. You may come back, like you know like this no one finger. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I used to have all five digits, but I did this pet sitting and I just wanted to see what would happen if I went under the bed.
Speaker 2If I did what they told me not to.
Speaker 1What's the worst that could happen If I did what they told me not to. What's the worst that could happen? And how many times have you and I been in situations where we've said what's the worst that could happen? We've done that quite a few times. Oh my God.
Speaker 2We need to have a podcast episode on what's the worst that can happen, and then or like famous things that we like didn't see coming Like.
Speaker 1why didn't?
House Sitting Adventures and Friendships
Speaker 2you see this coming. We're going to develop that. Oh, you guys are going to. We have had some. Over 50 years, you can only imagine the things that Angie has gotten me into.
Speaker 1You can only imagine Leslie is the one who runs towards.
Speaker 2You know if the police is going that way?
Speaker 1I go this way. Leslie's like what happened. I really do, Jason.
Speaker 2I admit I don't understand, and here I go, pee-pee-cluck-cluck behind her like what, leslie? Because I want to protect her from herself. Anyway, it is so they say, whether it's like an older dog or medication, and this dog actually has play dates. So someone will be coming to pick them up.
Speaker 1For their play date while we're there.
Speaker 2But I think it's going to be fun.
Speaker 1I think it is especially your first. Yeah, this is going to be good. Do they pay you for this?
Speaker 2Or is your woman?
Speaker 1board the payment in whatever.
Speaker 2Great question. I'm going to answer that in one second. The other thing about especially a dog is that it's a great way to talk to people, people you know. When you're walking the dog, it's like oh, where do you live?
Speaker 1It's a great conversation starter. It's a great conversation starter and it's really good for lonely people and things like that. It really, oh, in fact, I really like this. This is a nice idea.
Speaker 2It's now you're coming around, so there is no money exchanged between the parties. The only money that gets spent is the money to pay for the app and it's very reasonable for the app. And it's very reasonable, I think, like the basic basic, just to do the sitting, not to also offer your place, because you can get the combined one.
Speaker 1I think it's maybe $159 for the year, right, but I don't mean money for I'm talking about. Would the folks be paying you to watch their dog for a period of time?
Speaker 2No, no, no, no. The only money that's exchanged is the money that's spent on that I understand.
Speaker 1Got it, got it.
Speaker 2There's no more, because it's really a great quick pro quote, right? Yeah, you'll learn about that there's so many benefits on both sides. You don't have to travel with your pet. Your pet doesn't have to travel with your pet.
Speaker 1Your pet doesn't have to be disruptive but disrupted, yeah, yeah and um, so it really I think it's just great. It was like a supply and demand come together. Great, and are they typically luxury accommodations or well, you know another.
Speaker 2Another really good question when I'm staying is fabulous. Oh my God, it's amazing. It's amazing.
Speaker 1Wow, oh my gosh, I can't wait Other places again.
Speaker 2it depends on who you are and what you like and why you're there.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah, some people are okay with a farm or this or like a more rural setting.
Speaker 2There's some places that are like way up in the mountains of. Cuernavaca, Mexico. I see, I see or you know, on the beach in Merida Mexico, or in the rainforest in Costa Rica, or these are all places that every time don't take every time I look at them.
Speaker 1I'm like let me tell you the rainforest. I was speaking to someone about the rainforest just today.
Speaker 2Don't take that one listen, but you and I have listen, but I tell you, it was my favorite, it was my favorite place to go to in costa rica.
Speaker 1It was the one that was most memorable, but from both ends I don. Favorite place to go to in Costa Rica. It was the one that was most memorable, but from both ends. I don't need to go there again.
Speaker 2I understand, just like I don't need to do the road to Hanna again in Hawaii.
Speaker 1Don't need to do that, you know.
Speaker 2Remember that when you were in Nicaragua, I think no, Guatemala, oh Clabintical.
Speaker 1Yes, the Mayan tour, yeah, and you know I'm afraid of heights. And they made me go on a volcano Remember that, and they're like we can't leave you here. You have to get on this horse and go up the volcano. And the little man, the Guatemalan, he just kept saying about the horse the horse is muy fuerte, muy fuerte. And I'm like he looked at me and all of this and said, don't worry, muy fuerte. I'm like, oh my gosh that's hilarious.
Speaker 1Thanks, pal. But yeah, the horse was able to carry my ass up that volcano, so he was muy fuerte okay, excellent, excellent horse what if I got on the horse and his four legs collapsed? Let's listen then I would say, like can I stay here at the base of the volcano? I'll stay here to you guys.
Speaker 2They wouldn't let me stay behind.
Speaker 1I'm like I'm here on a medical mission, I am not here to be a lava chaser. And literally we were standing and there was fire under our feet.
Speaker 2Wow Okay.
Speaker 1Anyway.
Speaker 2And you lived to tell about it.
Speaker 1Thank you Lord. Thank you, Black Jesus. So when do you leave to go on this trip?
Speaker 2I ain't telling everybody when I'm leaving. I'll be there. For when is your?
Speaker 1home going to be empty so I can house sit your place. We'll probably both be traveling around the same time, but somewhere in the holidays I am going to, even though I don't have a pet currently.
Speaker 2I am going to probably put my home as a sit, because I would say the majority of the sits are with pets but not all of them are.
Speaker 1Some are just to date. The city and all of that.
Speaker 2Yeah, but I mean, for example, if I'm going to be away for a month or two months, I would likely put my house as a sit. You know, if none of my family members or friends want to come down, I would put it as a sit so that people can water my plants or bring in my mail.
Speaker 1Or, you know, if I have any scheduled, scheduled deliveries, they can you know that's a good idea for my house in florida, because I don't like the fact that it's empty all the time I think a house needs to breathe and have people living in it, and moving around and stuff exactly, you know it's like yeah, I kind of think that that might even work.
Speaker 2That's a a nice idea.
Speaker 1Wow. So we're going to put in the link, all of the links to these websites and companies that we're referring to kind of official one.
Speaker 2I've done one before but I knew the person, but this one I don't know the folks, and so it's really exciting.
Speaker 1It is exciting. Next year, though, I'm telling you, you're going to bring your recording equipment, so we can probably do some recording while you're there.
Speaker 2Yes, and I'll show you all the things, and that will be pretty nice and I'll meet little Diablo the dog. You're so terrible?
Speaker 1Let me just tell you if I do any recording and I see you with a big bandage over your face, I'll know that the greeting didn't go so well that you went under the bed to try to get him. That's what I'll know, wherever he doesn't want me.
Speaker 2I will. I will not you don't want to be. I I will not be, that is for certain. I'm not. No, you don't want to play?
Speaker 1that ain't me, come on, that's not me. That's not me.
Speaker 2I will wait till he warms up to me and it's all good, but he really looks like the sweetest dog and you know we got to meet him on the video or whatever, all right so anyway, just wanted to share.
Speaker 1I guess we'll close. I'm happy, happy to know. Thank you for sharing. And I'm going to close by saying this has been another episode of Black Boomer. Besties from Brooklyn, brooklyn. Thanks for listening.
