Differences

The Difference Between The Them and The Us

We had a lot in common, but some of our differences were comical. We needed to trade keys,  right? Or, at least devise a method of getting into each others house. Marie sent me 3 keys, and the following instructions:

There will be 3: one for the gate (it can be hard to open if it is warm because the metal dilates), one for the shutter of the front door (the second one on your left when you come inside the garden), and the last for the front door......and the alarm code is: ##### and "off" (the keyboard is just on your right, on the wall, when you come inside).

We just have one key, and it will be in a lock box on the front porch.Code #####.

We also have cats, and they have no pets. We are very concerned about our cats, as we live next to "open space", a "preserve", call it whatever. It is land which will never be developed into houses or stores and has been preserved naturally. With all associated wildlife.Have not confessed about the fish.

During the day, not much happens up there. At night, the coyotes, raccoons, skunks, owls and more come out. Some have been known to prey upon the domestic cats. So we really, really, really want our cats in at night. Our trick is to feed the cats only at night, inside, which seems to get them in the house. One cat is very tricky and an escape artist.

Our French friends think they will be fine with the cats. We can hope.

Speaking of Trust....

One has to advance some amount of trust to do a home exchange. After all, we will be oceans away from our house while strangers are in our house. And of course, we will be in their house.

More than a few friends have asked about this. A surprising number of friends have not even mentioned the trust thing. We have agreed to leave each other's house as we found it, including watered plants.

I think the basic trust issue is overcome because both families are in the same situation: we are in their house, they are in ours. Perhaps even bigger is the enormous amount of communication that occurs between the families, negotiating the dates, what will be available for each family and more.

At some point, it felt like we were really getting to know each other and we had a lot in common. Then something terrific happened. We began to treat our families as special guests, not just the cleaning, leaving some food, wine and instructions, but favorite dining spots. We have been wishing each other excellent holidays!