They say you never forget your first experience with airbnb.
Mine was 15 years ago, with Veronique—a wonderful younger woman in Amsterdam. She had a flat near Vondelpark. Every morning she got up early before work, made me coffee and breakfast, and we did yoga together. Evenings we would often talk for hours—about music, city life, love, philosophy.
Honestly, I kinda fell in love with her. But, alas, I was married at the time, and living in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA. We kept in touch through Facebook, etc.
I also found that I loved airbnb. No, not the big, ugly corporation. God bless them, the founders are billionaires now, and airbnb is in the S&P 500; but everyone knows how sad it’s become. Hosts are treated horribly. The customer service used to be bad. Now they don’t have any; they just have AI scripts that somebody reads to you from India. And they charge commissions. Boy do they charge commissions!
No, what I loved was the idea. People all over the world, welcoming strangers into their homes. Entrepreneurs. Elderly people supplementing their retirement. Young people making their mortgage payments. Intrepid travelers, willing to try something new and meet the local people.
I’m not saying it’s the key to world peace, but genuine hospitality is a wonderful, human, good thing.
In fact, I loved the idea so much, that when I got divorced, I bought a big old house, three blocks from the University of Massachusetts, and my daughter, Eva, and I started renting out rooms on airbnb. I loved it. Eva acquiesced.
One day, I came home from work, and 6 or 7 guys I hadn’t met yet were sitting in my living room, drinking my beer, and speaking Korean. I was thrilled. Another time some aunties took me out to Panda East, a local Chinese restaurant. I had been going there for years. I had no idea there was a secret menu available to real Chinese people. You learn something new every day, right?
I found I was genuinely good at short-term, superficial relationships—exactly the skill you need for hosting.
I also made some friendships that have endured, to this day. (Hi guys!)
Last year, I decided I was unhappy, so I changed my life. I sold the house. Paid off my debts. Traveled from Turners Falls to Istanbul to Çıralı. Venice to Nova Scotia. Sint Maarten to Isle of Skye. Moved in with my Mom, who is turning 95 next month. Joined Freedom Boat Club. And, while I didn’t miss changing duvet covers, I was thinking a lot about airbnb. I think I can create something better.
Welcome to PeoplesBnB.com.
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