UNWRAPPING THE NEW HOME EXCHANGE

Entering a new swap home is like unwrapping a birthday present. There is the thrill of anticipation. Then you either get a wonderful surprise or a sad disappointment.


Our coastal California swap home was a nice surprise. It looked as if it had been hand-hewn by a ship-builder. Everything was over-built from thick slabs of rough redwood.


The sleeping loft was held together with huge nuts and joists.


It looked like the house had been built in the 1970's by someone with that hippie-era love of unfinished natural materials. Since then, the home-owners had renovated the kitchen and bathroom with granite, hand-laid tiles and Italian fittings.


The house was very nicely renovated and perfectly clean. The garden was a beautiful riot of flowers, even in December. From every room the blue Pacific ocean stretched before us.


A small office contained twin beds, a sturdy doll house and children's books.


The kitchen had new stainless appliances and a large dining area. There was a formal living room and a den.


The most interesting room was the bedroom. A dressing room and closet area with 6-foot ceilings was topped by a sleeping loft big enough for a king size bed and little else. It had such low head clearance it reminded me of the sleeping area above the cab in a recreational vehicle.


It was a very interesting house. We had almost two weeks to use it, for free. I really love home exchange.