We took over management of Beach Bird in 2011 from an agency to better serve our guests. Thanks to Homeaway now VRBO, this was not as daunting as expected; it turns out everything is done online now anyway. We get to meet and know our guests and this has been very rewarding; there are some really great folks out there and providing them with a first class vacation has been a wonderful experience. When you have guests relaxing and having a good time it makes all the hard work worthwhile.

For me Beach Bird was love at first sight; my real estate agent wanted to turn around and leave immediately. All the windows and doors were frosted and furnishings were pretty basic, but I liked the layout and location in the low-traffic North End. You would never guess now with the large pool and gazebo but the backyard was a bramble patch. But there were great views, and the owner had already installed solar hot water, so we already had a start on my goal of going solar. We now have a solar pool heater. Every off season we were busy remodeling starting with the doors and windows. Some day maybe I'll get to stay there a few days without working and see what it's like!

Over the years as Sandbridge has become busier I have come to appreciate the North End more and more. You can walk or bike ride without worrying about busy traffic, and crossing the street to the beach path is never an issue, the neighbors have been great and we have tried to be selective in having guests who like to relax and enjoy peace and quiet on their vacation. We have made the backyard pool area into an oasis where you can relax by the pool and keep and eye on the kids in comfortable reclining patio chairs out of the hot sun under the gazebo cooled by the ocean breeze. I'm sure that sounds like hype but we do actually get an afternoon rising convection sea breeze most afternoons. When I'm taking a break from the remodeling; it's my favorite spot.