08/20/2023
August thoughts from a Tempe, AZ host:
While most locals are feeling "so done" with this summer's record-breaking heat and air-conditioning bills, the rhythm of life goes on! Around 60K ASU students have returned for the fall semester, Tempe businesses are abuzz, and those undeterred by the heat get out in the relatively cooler mornings and evenings walking, riding bikes, or floating in boats around Tempe Town Lake.
I had a few guests in July say they will hike nearby desert trails during their stay. 🥵 It's been more than 25 years since I moved here from the PNW, so I'm acclimated, but I don't LOVE the heat like some people. I tend to spend most of June-August in air-conditioned spaces--home, my car, stores, restaurants, museums, and movie theaters. I even move my bike inside and ride it watching YouTube nature videos. 🚴♀️ However, I do like to sit outside during our glorious sunsets when I can. They rarely disappoint! My neighbors at Culdesac shared this picture from a hike at nearby Papago Park.
Speaking of Culdesac, if you are into environmental-friendliness, I recommend checking them out the next time you're in Tempe. Culdesac develops walkable communities https://culdesac.com/about . As a co-leader of our Neighborhood Association, it's been exciting to welcome their new development across the street from us. They don't incorporate parking lots in their community designs, because their residents make commitments to use light rail, buses, bikes, walking, and vehicle-sharing programs. Their design also incorporates art from local artists, and community places to eat, shop, and socialize. They're "radically cool" and terrific neighbors! They have been working closely with us on a range of community development projects (so important for mitigating the impacts of rapid gentrification in our NE Tempe neighborhoods). Culdesac offers tours for the curious, and they're a short a short walk from my house. Just call them using the number on their website (linked above).
Coinciding with the start of ASU's fall semester, my guest suite bookings are picking up. Woohoo for me! 😅 I stay booked pretty solidly all year, but in June and July, I get a lot of last-second bookings after I've lowered my nightly price as low as possible (as with any business, there's a price-point I can't dip below without losing money due to overhead costs). In August, when advance bookings come back into full swing, I get a slightly giddy feeling that summer will end soon, and I'll be walking and riding my bike outdoors again. 🤩 Unfortunately, it's just a trick that gets played on my brain every August, because the coolness I'm craving doesn't really hit until late September.
Over the past 3 months, I've met guests from all around the US, plus South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Portugal, and Germany, that I know of. This is absolutely one of my favorite things about hosting! For a while, I even tried keeping a guest journal in my suite with instructions to "Share where you're from, fun thoughts, drawings, or poems about your travels, and anything interesting for other guests to read." It really flopped! 😆 Guests weren't into the creative exercise. They just filled it with "thank you" and complimentary notes to me instead of creative, interesting things about themselves. If you have ideas for making a guest journal more successful, please let me know. I might try it again someday.
On a final note, if anyone has questions about setting up their own Airbnb, I'm happy to be a resource. I had "mentors" who helped me a lot when I got started (I was quite nervous in the beginning), so I pay it forward when I can. Also, any new Airbnb host should use a current host's referral code for the perks. Here's mine: https://www.airbnb.com/r/rlee3687?s=6&t=061n0g
I hope you are all having a terrific summer! I know it's a favorite time of year in much of the world. Cheers to making the most of each day, wherever we are.
Happy travels,
RoniSue ☀️🌵🌻🌅
