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Adventures
In Nest Swapping
From GypsyNester.com
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One
of the many advantages to having an empty nest is the freedom
to swap your nest with other adventurous types. Being in the
habit of Googling at the drop of a hat, we decided to take
the online approach to finding suitable exchanges. We looked
at several different sites, and chose HomeExchange.com for
its ease of use and abundant choices from all over the globe.
For a small annual fee, one can peruse homes, set up destinations
to visit and receive e-mails when new opportunities become
available. |
We were looking
to make an extended visit to New York City to visit our fast-walking,
subway-chasing, black-wearing, taxi-flagging urbanite daughters.
Bunking with them in their microscopic Manhattan flats or paying
$500 a night for a "cheap" hotel were out of the question.
The hotel costs alone would be enough for the down payment on
Buckingham Palace.
So we logged
on to HomeExchange.com, posted pics of our St. Croix home and
set NYC as one of our preferred destinations. We were floored
by the flood of e-mails from Manhattanites who wanted to head
to the islands to escape the summer in the city. We’re talking
hundreds of takers.
In no time
came an offer from a designer in Park Slope with a quintessential
New York brownstone. Fiona and her family were old hands at the
exchange game and they suggested a three week swap. She promised
to leave take out menus, a Zagat restaurant guide and a subway
map. We promised snorkeling gear, beach towels and directions
to the crab races. After a few e-mails and a phone call or two,
we were on our way.
Upon arrival,
we found two bottles of lovely wine as a welcoming gift, a list
of the house’s "quirks" and a note on the individual
specialties of the local markets. We immediately took the Zagat
to the stoop with a bottle of the wine and mapped out our urban
culinary escapades. We soon realized that Fiona’s kitchen
would not get much use--there was Ethiopian, Indian, Halal and
New York’s first pizza (Lombardi’s --go there!) to be
consumed. And consume we did.
Here are
some things were learned on the way:
Make
human contact proir to the exchange
This is REALLY important. It's very comforting be able to ask
questions over the phone, especially for newbies.
Create
a "house file"
Ours had issues like "don't use the hairdryer upstairs and
the espresso machine in the kitchen at the same time, but just
in case, the fuse box is by the fridge" and "stick your
finger in the hole of the TV to turn it on." Make sure your
rules are clear: Fiona's family didn't wear street shoes in the
house and forbade smoking, we put a ban on using Grandma's china.
Remember that each exchange will pose special issues--Fiona recalls
"a very amusing period in a French home trying to get into
the washing machine." Leave clear instructions--especially
for those who come from far away places.
Think
about the first day
Make sure your exchangers know where the nearest grocery store
is (with directions and store hours). If your area has "unique"
customs -- as ours does--fill them in. For example, on our island
you must greet people with a "Good Morning" or "Good
Night." It's a real vacation breaker if the first thing you
receive upon arrival is a dressing-down.
Give
them an option of a housekeeper
We took advantage of this; less stress and more time at the Statue
of Liberty, eateries and cheesy tourist diversions.
Exchange
cell numbers
Try not to use it, nice if you need it.
Replace
anything you break or use
Most of the online exchange sites have a rating system, you don't
want a bad rating, you will be black balled in the future. Plus,
it's mannerly--don't be a heathen--it's not nice.
Leave
a thank you note
Be sure to let them know the fun things you did and any problems
that arose-it is helpful for future exchanges.
David & Veronica,
GypsyNester.com
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