I’m Running My Own Airbnb -Except I’m Not Making Any Money

I love having the pond. It relaxes me, is beautiful to look at and is also my water source. I do like having water. Lately though I’ve had so many guests come join me on my pond. They can be quite fun to watch, but they’re loud, don’t clean up after themselves and think they own the place. No I haven’t been invaded by teenagers.

Canadian geese.

Over the last few weeks groups of geese have been landing in the pond. At first I thought it was so cool and I’d say hi to them – and they’d calmly swim down to the other end. I loved watching them and how one would honk and then they’d all take off. They’d go a bit south, make a wide turn to the west back over the cottage and then head south. I liked to think they were saying goodbye.

I know, I’m spending too much time alone.

I also couldn’t help it – I’d count them. I know Canadian Geese mate for life and I’d count to make sure there was an even number. If not, I’d wonder who’d lost a mate and was left alone. I’d think hey, I hear ya man, and feel badly for whomever it was. It would make me a little morose (I’m Irish Catholic – we don’t get melancholy or sad, we get broody) and think maybe he/she could stay with me. Then I’d slap myself up the side of the head – only figuratively – and say snap out of it. You have enough animals around here!

Then they started to get a bit annoying. They leave lots of feathers in the water. I’m glad to provide bathing space, but clean up after yourselves. I have to drink (heavily filtered though) this water.

Then they poop. I get it, we all do (wasn’t that a book title for kids on potty training?) but man, I don’t want to step in it. Go do it in the neighbor’s field. He cut the corn down and it’s wide open. Why does it have to be next to my pond?

Then the noise. I’ve been woken up quite a few times in the middle of the night with lots of honking as either a new group arrives or one departs. I wish they would respect the check in/check out times I’ve posted. It’s just rude. It’s not like they’re paying to stay here.

They do however provide entertainment for both Reuben and my sister’s dog Tucker. Reuben likes to look at them and will wade in towards them. He must not look threatening because they don’t do anything but swim the other way. Tucker though is an English Springer Spaniel. Tuck likes to bark and bark. And the geese like to ignore and ignore. I think Tuck’s feelings get a little hurt that they don’t listen to his demand to leave. He keeps trying though.

Overall I really do like seeing them. If they lived here it would make me crazy. They are dirty, messy and inconsiderate. I’ve had teenagers once, not again.

Seriously though, I’m paying the rent and no one asked me if they could fly in and out. I’m running the worst Airbnb ever. It is kind of like teenagers and family from out-of-town – you like seeing them for a bit, then they annoy the hell out of you. So I smile nicely as they fly away, feel a little sad they’re leaving, then so relieved I can go in and relax. Then I’ll go through it all again in the spring. Maybe I can figure out a rental schedule by then.