@Kevin1322 I echo your thoughts, & those of @Sarah977 . I travelled the world, when I had a well paid (foreign) husband, now that he's legged it, Airbnb helps pay the bills. And give me something enjoyable to do, with just a bit of challenge - not too much, too old & weary & battle scared for that! And I'd hate to have to go back to work, after years of being a housewife & world traveller, it would all be too much of a strain. (And I wouldn't want to leave his lordship, the border collie!) So, earning by pottering around the house suits me fine! I no longer have the money, nor the inclination to travel, so now the world comes to me! Like you, Kevin, I host a lot of walkers, in my case cos I'm near the Lake District, and the Cumbrian coast path. I climbed most of the Lake District mountains in my younger days, so it's good to relive them thru the tales of others. And offer advice! I host cyclists too, being 2 miles from the start of the cycling Coast to Coast route. And walkers & other outdoorsy folk tend to be nice people, I find, generally grateful & undemanding. I often think we are lucky in the UK: we generally get good guests - the horror stories of guests with a bad attitude seem to come mainly from American hosts. I've hosted a few bikers - an American couple, an Australian, a South African living in Southampton, a Polish lady up from London, & a German living in London, who was my nicest guest ever!
Sometimes, I think @Kevin1322 , if I didn't do Airbnb, I'd go crazy! I'd be horrendously socially isolated, without these interesting folk coming & going.... I've lived here 24 years, & the locals are a no go zone -Airbnb connects me with 'normal' people.... with interesting tales to tell. (Mind you, end of August, I was sufferring overload... Getting second wind now, now bookings are slowing down.) In a few days I'm hosting an Australian living in Africa, who is staying 1 night between walking the 95 mile West Highland Way, & the 182 mile Coast to Coast! Now there could be a conversation! But I expect he'll just want to sleep!