Airbnb + What's Mine is Yours: Changing Lives for the Better

      So, after reading the intro and Part One of What’s  Mine is Yours, by Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers, I have basically changed my way of viewing life. I know it sounds cliché that a book has changed my life, however, it is a true statement. I always knew that I owned a bunch of crap and had a hard time getting rid of it, but now I have so many questions to ask myself about why I keep it. My storage needs a storage! The book states:

"If you put out your arms, you create about seven square feed around you, That is roughly how much self-storage space there is for every man, woman, and child in America. It means every single person in the country could comfortably stand together inside self-storage units."

I don't want to be that person. Granted I do not pay for storage anywhere, I just cram it into my apartment storage closet.
      I even have two iPods. I have a first and second generation iPod Touch. I just gave one to my best friend, Sofia, because I realized I will never use two of them, even though it is a nice idea. I am giving her the second generation, which is SOO awesome! It has newer features, and cooler specs, but after reading this book I realized it was frivolous of me to keep two, and a little selfish, when my best friend only has a pathetic little shuffle. But how do we, as Emerging Media and Communications graduate students, not want the newest, neatest, or most interesting gadgets? Is this act of wanting gadgets acceptable because this is our field of study? After reading this, I wonder, what items are justifiable to want and which are not? I know what is a want of my own, and what is a need, but that isn’t the issue at hand. The issue is: what is acceptable to my conscious to purchase and have, but not need?

      I also vowed to start recycling more, like at my apartment, and to give more to Goodwill than I already do. But then I thought: how do I feel that Goodwill charges the poor to have the clothes I donated? Why not just go knocking door to door to find people who need them, and give clothes for free? This collaborative consumption idea has me thinking about all kinds of things, such as: where to buy my groceries, goods, furniture, decorations, dog food, etc. Why not buy them online from Etsy users, or from people on Amazon or Ebay? I don’t mind big businesses, I know they donate and give so much to the world in the sense of jobs and low prices, but I do like the idea of trading goods with others. I reminisce about how people used to interact: I do this deed for you, or give you this, you give or do something back for me, and we’re even. However, it cannot be that way anymore do to the progressive hyper-consumerism of society. 

      I do think it is sad that children growing up now have it embedded into their minds that "more is better." The book states:

"A child born today will live to about eighty years old and consume on average 2.5 million liters of water, the wood of 1,000 trees, 21,000 tons of gasoline, 220,000 kilos of steel, and 800,000 watts of electrical energy. At these rates, the average American child will produce in his or her lifetime twice the environmental impact of  Swedish child, 3 times that of an Italian, 12 times that of a Brazilian, 35 times that of an Indian, and 280 times that of a Haitian. If everyone on the planet lived like the average American child, we would need five planets to sustain them during their lifetime."

I know that I do not want my children growing up that way. I grew up knowing we didn’t have much and so I didn’t ask for a lot, but somehow my mother always found a way to surprise me when I least expected it. But you know what? Not having a lot as a child, then getting surprised with a few nice things, make you appreciate and take care of them more, versus if you got things all the time and expected them. 

      I am very interested in living my life better and being more conscious about what I buy/discard, and saving money. Everyone spends their disposable income to pieces, and people are never satisfied with what we have, but only want more to fill some sort of vortex void. I will continue writing about my efforts to change my lifestyle. 

      The first step I am taking is to rent out an extra room I will have in my apartment, because my roommate is moving out and getting married. I used airbnb.com from the book. I love the web site and I think it is a great invention. Thanks to this class I have found a way to help with income in these hard times. Let’s all pray it works for me. This is the listing for my apartment: 

I have a two bedroom, two bath apartment. Travelers will have their own bedroom and bathroom. The room has a walk in, big closet, with its own private large bathroom. The laundry room is connected to the private bathroom, so guests have easy access to it. The bedroom has a large window with 2-3 inch faux wood blinds. I provide a blow-up Queen-sized mattress (and of course, fresh bedding). I also have a covered parking spot for your vehicle. The neighborhood is very safe and friendly. The apartment complex also has a splash pad and playground for children.

*Note: I only have one air mattress. I have an oversized couch and love seat for anyone who would like to stay on them. I also have a 50lb mixed dog. If you are not a dog person at all, I would not recommend you staying here, as she loves people.

Optional Accommodations:
● Dogs up to 80lbs are welcome. Cats are loved, but not a good idea to have them at this time, as my dog is a one-year-old. Exotic animals can be discussed.
● I will also cook breakfast and dinner for travelers upon their request. Breakfast and dinner is an extra $20.00 per day (for the price of groceries). I am a true southern cook and I can get you full!
● I know the hot spots, and do not mind being a guide/help for your trip. I also own a media business, so I can take professional photos of you on your trip for $30.00 total. That is an outstanding deal for unlimited pictures throughout your whole trip.

HOUSE RULES:

• No smoking in the house. I have a balcony for smokers.

• No eating on the furniture.

• No parties.

• No mistreating my dog.

• Just treat my house as if it were your own.

HOUSE FORMS:

• I have an addendum to sign for various reasons.

• Upon arrival I will request the signature of adults, 18 and up, on the addendum forms. 

• Lice & Bedbug addendum (stating if you bring them into the house, you will pay for the clean up) 

• Key addendum (stating if you have a key, you will not make copies and will return it after your stay, or be in trouble. I only give keys to those who sign this addendum) 

• Animal treatment addendum (stating you will not mistreat my dog or feed her, and you will pick up after your pet)  

• Damages and liability addendum (stating if you break or damage something, you will pay to fix it, and I am not responsible for your injuries) 

• Agreement of payment for optional accommodations (states if you want the optional accommodations, you will pay for them)

If you would like to write a recommendation for me and vouch for me on the web site so I can have more reviews, I would appreciate it! 


http://www.airbnb.com