After documenting the existing damage to our home exchangers' car, we loaded up kids and luggage and set sail in their big boat of a car. There is an axiom in the travel industry that 95% of tourists concentrate on the same 5% of well-known destinations. The swappers' home is half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco. That means it is a 4 to 5 hour drive from either city. If you have a home that is far off the beaten track, offering the use of a car so swappers can get there will make it much more attractive to exchange with you.
The drive up the coast was an attraction in and of itself. We traveled right alongside the Pacific Ocean. I lived in California for over a decade, and the powerful waves and gnarled live oak trees made me happy and nostalgic at the same time.
With such a long drive, it was pitch black by the time we tried to find the exchangers' house. We could not see street names or house numbers. We had to drive up and down their street several times. This is an instance when a GPS navigation device is crucial but a GPS will only get you within half a block or so of a destination. A flashlight would have been equally helpful.
Make sure to give your exchange partners detailed instructions on how to locate your home once they arrive in your town. Describe the house, driveway and any other landmarks that could help them. And leave the outside light on, even if you will be away for a while. It deters theft and can make the difference between happy swappers and frustrated ones.
When we finally found the home and went inside we had lots of surprises, some good, others horrific. More to come.
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