"You Are Welcome Here" - The Unforeseen Surprises of Being an Air BnB Host

[Marianne235]

As I sat sharing a dinner with a new friend last night, one of my Air BnB guests, it occurred to me how far I had come on this journey when I opened up my home to visitors after losing my husband last year.

Over the past few months I have welcomed quite a few visitors. For some Santa Monica is the first stop, for some it is the last stop, and for some it is the only stop.  I’ve had visitors from France, Italy, Sweden, Ecuador, as well as other parts of the United States.  I’ve discovered August is the hot month for visitors from Australia!

When I first began this endeavor three months ago, I had no idea if I would enjoy it. The first couple of visits were indeed bumpy as I had to adjust to footsteps in the house (my house!), clunkings in the bathroom, and the door opening and closing at all hours. There was the discomfort of having to figure out how to live in my own house with strangers in it. Simple things such as cooking or watching television, or having friends over, felt awkward as I navigated boundaries between public and private space.

Then, as with so many things, I learned to adapt and even welcome these strangers into my home.

‘Welcome.’  That is indeed a beautiful word.  I looked it up and found that it meant, “Whose arrival is a cause of joy.  Received in gladness.”

Last night me and my new friend shared openly about loss and family and aging and how do we come back together as a country. Over the past months I’ve chatted with lady jockeys in the morning sunshine, had a glass of wine with a psychologist from Sweden, shared a meal with two sisters on their own journey of healing.

In the beginning, the gift of hosting the BnB was the requirement that I participate in the world to a greater degree. Opening my home up meant that I would be encouraged to meet and mingle with people after months of being a recluse.

It also required that I keep the house clean, do the dishes, vacuum the dust before it got too thick. It required I put a smile on my face, a cheer in my voice as I opened the door to welcome them in.

What had not been required was that we might share a meal, a story, a laugh, a loss. What had not been required was that we would hug goodbye, promise to stay in touch, offer open invitations to come visit and stay awhile.

I’ve known for a long time that this house, this home of mine, has a wonderful healing energy. She glows when she is filled with guests. The cool porch welcomes the weary traveler, the sunlit bedroom is a peaceful oasis after the tiring expeditions.  I hear it in their sighs of contentment when they first arrive, “Oh, how lovely.  Thank you for letting us stay.”

“The pleasure is mine.” I honestly respond.

There is something deeply satisfying in laying out the clean sheets, placing the towels just so, cutting the sprigs of lavender to greet them.  It brings out the mother in me to shop for fresh fruit, discover new books to add to the growing collection, make their coffee in the morning.  It pleases me tremendously to hear they’ve slept well, enjoyed their stay, miss this place already.

In a world that seems filled with violence and hate and cruelty, it is a blessing to be reminded that there is also much kindness and generosity and love. In the end we are all people. As I sit speaking with folks from different countries, different cultures, it is a fierce reminder that even as there are differences between us there are also so many similarities.  A mother is a mother in any country.  A loss is a heartbreak in any land.  A friend is a gift everywhere.

It is an honor to provide this sanctuary, this oasis, this place to ease down the walls for a little bit.

“Welcome,” I say to them as I open the door, letting them step inside.  “Welcome to my home.”

[Petrina3]

I loved reading this-thank you.

[Marianne235]

thank you.

[Rebecca160]

@Marianne235 what a beautifully written post! Thank you so much for sharing how Airbnb has transformed you. 

At first, I was also unsure how I would feel about strangers coming to my home and sharing space together, it was utterly surprising how quickly I grew to love having guests here! And my dog and cat also quickly adapted and love making new friends. 

[Marianne235]

Yes!  Exactly.  And then, I also treasure the quiet time as well.  Like the sun and the moon ....

Here you about the animals.  My cat sometimes makes himself a little too comfortable with the guests.  I have to tell them they can most certainly kick him out if he gets to be a nuisance.

[Robin4]

@Marianne235

In this life we reap what we sow! Your words are full of kindness and gentleness and you have a soul that was born to host. I know that you will go from strength to strength, and in a year or two you will look back on your hosting career and marvel at how much richer you have become.

There is a certain sense of satisfaction in planning and doing something that will make someone else happy, and you Marianne have that ability. It's not what you write it's your thoughts that shine through  those words that tells us what sort of person and host you are.

We do not realise how many beautiful people there are out there in the world until we host. I will never be the way I was before Airbnb, and neither will you Marianne.

Good luck and I will watch your career blossom and grow!

Cheers.....Rob

[Marianne235]

Thank you so much for that.  In this process of learning to live a new life, I am astounded sometimes by how far I have come.  So no doubt it will be quite a revelation to see where things will be in the next couple of years.

to blossoming.  

[John-Barnes-0]

Our sentiments EXACTLY. You covered all of the reasons we LOVE hosting. It makes us better human beings. I think we get more out if it than we give. Our friends and family think we are crazy for opening our house to "strangers". Our response is: "they are only strangers for a few minutes"!

[Marianne235]

I love that, "they are only strangers for a few minutes."

And what the world needs now is more crazy people like us!

[Val76]

I am a new host my first guest will be arriving at the end of the month, I still haven't found out what I'm suppost to do when my first guest arrives.  Other than of course making them feel at home and showing them around, I'm not sure if I get notification from Airbnb to let them know the guest has arrived (or not).  I'm sure this is a really silly questions but something I feel I need to know.

Thank you for any reply.

Val

[Marianne235]

Dear Val,

Welcome to the BnB Community.  As I recall, BnB sent me some links that explained what to do as a new host.  But you've got the thought right, welcome them in, show them around the house, help them get settled and then point them in the right direction to go off exploring.

As far as contact with BnB, I've not notified them when my guest arrives.  I assume it becomes an issue when a guest doesn't arrive!

Best of luck with everything on this new adventure.

[Joanna236]

I've just opened my (new to me) home for Airbnb and read your post.  Thank you so much for your inspiration - a beautiful piece of writing.

[Caroline760]

Lovely, thank you for sharing your story! As a first host at airbnb it's lovely to read a post like yours. 🙂

Kind regards from Sweden