Coworking saved my life

I met Mike LaRosa at the Coworking Europe Conference 2015 in Milan. He was busy and had just ran the last half-mile so that he could reach the venue in time. Almost out of breath, he removed his shoulder bag, looked up, stuck out his hand, and said, "Hello, my name is Mike. Where are you from?" Later, I found out that he was one of the speakers at the conference. His topic was "sponsorships for coworking." It was an interesting talk, but what I also found interesting was the use of the word "coworkaholic," a term Mike used to refer to himself. I recently got the chance to ask him a few questions and dig a little deeper. Here are Mike's replies:

Q: What is your story, your background?

A: Kind of a crazy - I will try to keep it short. Was a college dropout while working at Starbucks. By the age of 21, I was the youngest Store Manager in the company and by 23 had managed a half a dozen stores, became a Coffee Master and then started working for them in a regional training capacity. 2008 was really tough on the company and I was in need of a change, so I answered a job posting for an Event Coordinator for the Washington Business Journal. Within 6 months in the role, I was selling more event sponsorships than the entire sales team combined. They groomed me into a custom role and brought me into corporate. That's where I started designing event concepts and sponsorships for all 42 markets in the US. By 2012 I had decided I was over the challenges of working in corporate environments and started by own consulting firm.

Q: How did coworking change your way of working?

A: Coworking saved my life. I launched a company with some great initial success but within a few months I was miserable working from home or coffee shops. I hated the isolation and struggled to stay productive, keep up on projects and my work totally suffered. At that time, I guess that I had known about a space in DC, but honestly I really thought that coworking was limited to "startups" and as a consultant/freelancer I just didn't think there was a place for me. Clearly that was a stupid thing to think, but rather than go check it out, I had been asking other small businesses I knew if I could rent some space from them, etc. They'd let me come in for a day or two at a time, but really none of them took me up on the offer. I had a client project that took me to Kansas City, MO and we were working out of a coworking space and I had this AHA moment that was like why am I not working from these spaces?!?! Then I discovered the conferences etc and I was hooked.

Q: In what way did coworking change your life in general?

A: I've started working on primarily only coworking projects. My experiences in producing events and working with corporate sponsors pairs very well with needs in the coworking industry. I've been able to produce some of the biggest conferences in the market and have brought some awesome sponsors/partners to spaces I work with. It's funny too that the experience I have from Starbucks trained me quite well for some of the skill sets needed in coworking. Both are very much a form of hospitality. Each Starbucks is a community. We have regulars that come in every day and we get to know them, their families. They share celebrations with us as well as sorrow. You also have to be great at customer service and be able to solve problems quickly.

Q: What is a 'coworkaholic'? Is it "just" a name, or is it something one can be?

A: Coworkaholic was just a term that someone used to describe me at a conference and the name just kind of stuck. I thought it was a pretty funny thing so that's what I used to name the blog that I'm working on now. I think that anyone can be a coworkaholic - it's a person who loves, eats, breathes, sleeps coworking. There are quite a number of us out there as evident from the large crowds gathered at events such as Coworking Europe Conference.

Q: Is there a downside to being a coworkaholic?

A: The only downside would be that it's still a form of workaholic? ha! I think that a coworkaholic is just someone who can't get enough of sharing and social workspaces. They are community builders and believers in the future of work. I meet people every day that are thriving in coworking spaces no matter where they are in the world. More and more of them are digital nomads - a group of people that have been around for quite some time but that now have the ability to plug into a network. I've had connections that I never would have thought possible. A former member from my space in DC is a part time member at a space in Thailand owned by a guy I was chatting with in Bali. It just proves that the world is really such a small place. 

Q: What's the most important thing that being a coworkaholic has taught you so far?

A: I've learned about the power of community. The power of finding your "people", your tribe. Being an independent worker is totally a doable thing, but without having a space to call your own, it's a very lonely existence. It's so great to know that I'm in a space where there are others who share my interests, struggles and have that common bond. 

Q: What's your advice to others who are on the verge of becoming coworkaholics?

A: I think that if you are using Coworkaholic as a definition of someone who is about to become a digital nomad and travel the world, it's that you mentally prepare yourself for the unexpected, have a willingness for adventure and also be ready to grow apart from some of the people that you hang out with on a daily basis. Planning is key - but then again you can't plan too much - you need to be able to pivot and adapt if things are to change. If you are using Coworkaholic as someone who is into the idea of coworking, believes in it's power for greater good and wants to open a space, then they need to do a ton of research to understand what goes into this business.

Thanks, Mike. I hope to see you again, somewhere out there.

Det, vi kan huske, var en uforglemmelig oplevelse

Det er dagen derpå, hvor det allerede – igen – er en uge siden, vi var samlet til en, så vidt vi husker, fantastisk aften på Cowork Klitmøller. Når vi siger det på den måde – og, når det har taget lidt længere tid at få strikket noget, der minder om et referat, sammen, skal det ses i lyset af, at det – vitterlig – har været svært.

Det er sådan, det går, når Christine styrer baren. Hun praktiserer en vidunderlig kombination af kemi, medicin, astrologi, mystik og kunst, når hun rundhåndet fylder os med eleksir. Hun er husets alkymist, og derfor gik det, som det skulle: Vi røg i hegnet, men det er i store træk så også det eneste, vi kan huske. 

Med forbehold: 

For en del af os startede festen med Peters udmærkede lakseforret, og for de fleste sluttede den omkring det tidspunkt, hvor Marianne kørte Mike hjem i – og nej, Mike, det var ikke en trillebør men Benthes Nihola. 

Kl. 4.32 meldte Martin på sms: “Så er der lukket og slukket. Sov godt. Kh Martin.” Det tager vi for pålydende fra én, der ved, hvad han taler om – efter et meget intenst forløb.

Forinden havde Heine givet den som Mr. Thomsen. ‘Endnu ingen indlæg”’ står der under ‘Spiller næste gang’ på mrthomsenmusik.com. Det kan selvfølgelig være sådan, det er. Vi tager det som et udtryk for, at man må vide det og være der, hvis man vil skråle med på ‘Mustang Sally’, ‘When a man loves a woman’, ‘Midt om natten’, ’VLTJ’ og ‘Byens Hotel’. Så simpelt er det, når en hjemmeside, som der står, er oprettet med SimpleSite. 

Vi var der. Det var Simon også – og nøj, hvor vi skrålede, alt, hvad vi kunne, for hold da op, hvor I da bare supplerer hinanden godt.  

Årets tema var ja-hatten – og dér tog vi diskussionen: 

Er der situationer, hvor man siger ja til nej, og dermed ja, selvom man siger nej. Skal man sige nej til ja eller ja til nej, før det bliver et nej? Kan man sige nej til nej og dermed ja? Konklusionen blev vist, at det, når alt kommer til alt, er som “med vilje” – “ja” er noget, man gør, og ikke (kun) noget, man siger. 

Det er ikke uvæsentligt, men vi lader det ligge og konstaterer i stedet, at vi er utroligt glade for, at I sagde ja til at være med til at gøre det, vi kan huske af årets julefest på Cowork Klitmøller, til en uforglemmelig oplevelse. 

Næste års fest er lørdag d. 10/12, kl. 20.00 - og husk, det, at du ikke er inviteret, betyder ikke, at du ikke kan komme. Det kan du - skriv til Mette, så fortæller hun, hvad du skal gøre, når vi kommer så langt. 

Måske ses vi til fredagsbar på Cowork Klitmøller. Det er noget nyt og sker anden fredag i hver måned i 2016. Det skal ikke nødvendigvis være vildt, det er ligeså meget fordi, vi gerne vil se og snakke med jer over en enkelt, inden den står på aftensmad, Disney Sjov - og for nogen en tur på Stalden. 

Indtil da ønskes alle en rigtig god jul og et godt nytår! 

Bakkedal wrapped in small aesthetic tales

A while ago, I was fortunate to be offered a job through my friend, Peter Alsted, at Cowork Klitmøller. I took it, and for a couple of weeks I functioned as local "scout", stylist, caster, and production assistant during the manufacturing of two commercial films about products from our local butter company, Bakkedal. The films were (of course) recorded in Thy. First a peek behind the scenes: 

The films differ markedly from the majority of commercials. The scenes are "wrapped" in real sound, for example, the roar of the waves and the wind in the lyme grass. The result is small aesthetic stories about the area with wonderful people from my immediate network. I am proud to have been part of the team. Here they are – enjoy: 

When Ideas are Turned into Reality: A Magical Evening in Kassethuset

In recent weeks, there have been quite a few meetings in the kitchen at our little coworking space. I haven't been part of them. I've just heard a bit, here and there, during the process. A week ago, I stood in Kassethuset in Klitmøller. Those ideas and those conversations were turned into a magical evening with fantastic people. They call it Rowdy Cold Hawaii. I sincerely hope that it will grow big and strong in Klitmøller. Here is how it looked from where I stood:

We got it all, we made it available to the world

This year's Cold Hawaii PWA World Cup is over, and once again, Cowork Klitmøller functioned as a hub for preparing the media setup. Both the time leading up to the event and the actual event was another stunning period.

To be part of an organisation that – so far – once a year has managed to create the possibility to gather some of the most, if not THE most, skilled people to cover the event is incredible.

I feel privileged to be responsible for the media team. I can honestly say that every individual has strived to surpass him or herself to make this event even greater than it was the year before. This year, you did it again, and for that I’m grateful.

Seriously, I almost have to pinch myself to believe that we have now for the sixth year in a row managed to find a winner here in Klitmøller, Cold Hawaii.

Not only did we find a winner, but we pulled off 11 hours of solid sailing and thereby a full double elimination. During that period, we saw some of the highest level windsurfing in Northern Europe that we’ve seen for a very long time.

Thank you Michael Breinhild Johansen, Maja Tarp, Ane Cæcilie Scheel, Simon Reeve, Ole Svarrer, Florian Gebbert, Julia Lauber, Dirk Herpel, Philipp v. Jagow, Max Stolarow, Nils Bade, David Strüning, Jacob Thorn Jensen, Jeppe Svendsen, Jeppe Søndergaard, Pedro Bjerregaard, Mie Worre Køngerskov, Frederik Juulstrup, Jens Wernberg, Sebastiaan Van Den Berg, Ben Proffitt, Roberto Hoffman, Chris Yeates and John Carter.

We got it all, we made it available to the world, and the world embraced our delivery.

Here you have it - the legacy movie from the KIA Cold Hawaii PWA World Cup 2015 - not much else to say. Enjoy!

The transformation of 312 Main

When I met Thomas, I immediately became fascinated by the project he is involved in. On the surface, he is part of the team that is creating a co-working space, but if you dig a little deeper, you find that much more is at stake. I’m so pleased that he has decided to share the DNA of his project with us. Ladies and gentlemen - here’s a guy on a special mission.

What is your background and how did you get involved in the project? 

I am an urban planner and real estate development advisor. I am the owner of TB Real Estate Co, which is a firm that provides support to developers in and around Vancouver, British Columbia. The guiding principal of the work I undertake is to contribute to real estate development that maximizes the assets available for the health, wellbeing and prosperity of future generations. I became involved in the project to revitalize 312 Main Street three years ago when I met Mr. Bob Williams while completing my Masters in Urban Planning. Mr. Williams has been a member of the Board of Directors at Vancity Credit Union for the past thirty years. Vancity is a Vancouver based cooperative financial institution with assets approaching $20 billion. 

What is the background to the project you are involved in?

312 Main is the former Vancouver Police Department headquarters. It is a 100,000 square foot building owned by the City of Vancouver. Symbolically, this building has been a flashpoint in the Downtown Eastside neighoborhood’s struggle for a compassionate and just society. The project is currently at the design stage and renovations will be commencing shortly. The first phase of occupancy is set to be in 18-20 months. The redevelopment of 312 Main is a unique collaborative effort between the Vancity Community Foundation and the City of Vancouver.

The idea for this project was germinating when I first met Mr. Williams. He had set out to pursue this project in remembrance of his late friend Jim Green, a hard-nosed community organizer and developer of social housing in Vancouver. The vision for the project was to create an inclusive centre that would build economic capacity within the Downtown Eastside community, an area that has been subject to much pain and difficultly participating our conventional economic system. 

The transformation of 312 Main is set to be a continuation of the unparalleled work that Jim Green completed over his career, most notability, with his involvement with the Woodwards department store redevelopment. This is a 1.2 million square foot mixed use development, including 200 units of social housing, a Contemporary Arts University, and office space for local NGO's. It was developed by Westbank Projects and designed by Henriquez Partners Architects.

What is the ultimate goal of the project? 

The rehabilitation of this building will be designed to enhance the physical elements that are conducive to cooperation, collaboration, and shared services, and to acknowledge the history of the building in the neighborhood. Offering a spectrum of spaces and promoting different types of interactions, 312 Main will strengthen civic life amongst tenants and the local neighborhood while building economic opportunities. These opportunities will create employment, encourage skills development, and leverage the impact created by social and technological innovations.
 
How is coworking part of the project? 

Spaces will suit different needs including open offices and coworking desks, maker space and studios, conventional offices, meeting rooms, and vibrant common areas with places for local cooks to feed tenants and their guests. The main floor will be designed to be porous to different ideas and interests, where the public and private spheres can readily mingle through the formal and informal programming that is delivered there.

What is the biggest challenge facing the project going forward? 

The coordination of a shared vision between the many diverse groups involved is the most challenging aspect of the project. 

What is your take on a solution (if you have one)? 

Constant and clear communication between all stakeholders is the most important element to any development project. People must feel included, respected and welcomed to participate in the process. Collectively, everyone has much to contribute. If engagement is completed sensitively and respectfully, throughout the entire planning, execution and operational phases of a project, people can be empowered to participate in a way that adds value that may have been hidden initially.

Where do you see the place in 5 - 10 years? 

I see 312 Main being known as a place where Vancouver took major leap towards developing an inclusive new economy. It will be a space that honours stories of the past and transforms this energy into narrative of rebirth, reconciliation and vitality.  

How do you envision cowoking in 10 - 20 years? 

I believe coworking will become a widely adopted and normalized office space typology. These venues will be providing an important amenity to the bourgeoning self-employment and micro entrepreneurial sector. Demand and diversity of coworking venues will continue to grow as people realize its suitability to a flexible economy, where limited supply of real estate in global urban centres renders conventional office space out of reach for a significant number of companies.

///

Thanks Thomas, may your project flourish and bring the changes, you describe. We look forward to following it.

Standing on Water - the opening night

The day and release of Standing on Water finally came.

It was a night to remember, as the crew, cast, family and friends gathered at Nasa (the local surfclub in Klitmøller) on a beautiful Wednesday evening. We had a few drinks and everybody boardet a bus taking us on a 25 minute ride to the cinema.

The seats were filled with excitement.

Standing on the water on the poster

The red carpet quickly filled up as we arrived and everyone entered the cinema. 144 seats were already sold out, and people were waiting for extra tickets to be released. There was a lot of love in the air. 

Peter Alsted and Casper Steinfath on the red carpet

Casper Steinfath in good company #2

Bad asses infront of the sponsor wall

After an electric 30 minutes it was about time to enter the cinema and open the doors to the film.

It's about to happen

Standing there on stage presenting the film and thanking local supporters and crew as well as hugging Casper and his family, was the perfect way to finally kick it all off. Sharing this moment with all these wonderful people was truly an amazing moment, and I'm humbled and grateful for everyone who's been part of this journey. We've come a long way. And now we've reached this chapter. This is just another step in the journey, and what a journey it has been. Next steps on the way os to get Standing on Water out into the world.

The cast receiving flowers on stage

STANDING ON WATER - THE ART OF MAKING A FILM

Documentary filmmaking is a bitter-sweet long haul. Once you’ve made a documentary film, you don’t ever want to go through that process again. And I’m not talking about 5-10-minute youtube clips, I’m talking feature-length cinematic experiences. Movies. The real deal.  But even though I swear to never put myself through that painful process again, once I catch the glimpse of an idea or meet a person with an interesting story, I know I'm in trouble. It’s a curse and a gift. All the more it's a huge pleasure to now be able to present Standing on Water.

Anyway, I'm a filmmaker. Two years ago, I was introduced to a group of people in Klitmøller through my friend from Cowork Klitmøller. They were looking for someone to make a film for the local county, and that ended up being me. 

I started researching and talking to folks in the area. Along the way, I met a local kid by the name of Casper Steinfath who at the time was 19 and had just won a world title in Stand Up Paddling. I had never heard his name even mentioned, but I immediately felt an urge to find out more about this kid. Very little time passed before I felt a film was in the making.

This guy!

To begin with I had no idea what it would be about. I’ve wanted to make some sort of surf or snowboard documentary since I was plowing my first powder, chasing friends in the French Alps with a camera in my hand (pre GoPro and Internet-era). But I never found a good story in those years, and I didn't want to make another surf porn just because. It had to be a real story. And everyone have a story. It's only a matter of digging it out. Spending time with character(s) is the only way to do it – and hence what filmmaking is all about. So I did after meeting Casper, and it soon became clear to me that he's had a very special upbringing and lives a very special life. 

Together with Rasmus, I applied for a bit of funding and luckily got it. This marked the beginning of my journey, and I decided to travel with Casper, his girlfriend, brother and friend, to California and Hawaii to follow his quest to win the legendary Battle of the Paddle. 

Shorebreak carnage coming up.

I never wanted to make a sports documentary with the structure of a competition as the main story. I wanted more. The competition was a way to get to know Casper better, and to know more about SUP. Checking in to my flight from Copenhagen to San Francisco, I asked myself what I was doing and what the film would be about. I didn't know. But I knew I wanted to find the answer to that question.

One of my film teachers once said:

"When you make a film, you'll end up making three films. The one you imagine, the one you shoot, and finally the one you end up editing."

I have experienced that before and this was what happened again. I found myself constantly paying attention to everything, trying to write down what I had seen and the ideas that came to me as I went along. I wanted to compose images at the moment that would come together what I thought was the big picture. 

Eighteen months of funding, traveling, shooting, and periods with hardly no sleep, sunburned shoulders, reef cuts, head butts, 200+ hours of raw footage from more than eleven different cameras, weeks of combing through the vast amount of material followed by non-stop editing with editor and assistant directors Anders Obbekjær and Kristoffer Hegnsvad, finding and fine tuning the story, keeping the music composer Adam Mckenzie on track, coordinating with Kong Gulerod Film for post production, developing the art direction with graphic designer Super Schwarz and working with sound designer Max Frost for the final mix, we ended up with something we hadn’t imagined.

Shooting in the wilderness in California and head buttet by my camera housing.

Documentary filmmaking is a tough cookie. It’s a gamble, and it’s certainly not for those who want stability in their lives. At the same time that’s exactly why it’s so fulfilling, full of surprises, ups and downs. Everyday is a new beginning with new tasks and challenges. 

One thing for sure though, you need your peers and supporters more than ever in such a process. You need people around you, who believe in the project and in you. Sometimes even more than you do. You need someone to lean on, and you need to be asked the right questions all along to stay the sharpest and the best you. You need help to do what you can't, and the bonds you build in the proces are priceless. It's like a family. 

We've established a film community called 'Empty Chairs.' Not to necessarily produce a lot of films or make tons of money, but for the sake of working together and creating a lot of different stuff for the passion of it. As we’re approaching the premiere and release of Standing On Water, Cowork Klitmøller has been part of that family all along. I can never thank Troels, Benthe, Mette, Tina, Marie Louise and Rasmus enough for being there and for believing in me, in us. So far it has been an unforgettable journey. Unreal, and beyond imaginable. Together, the future is bright. And I hope for many new adventures in their pleasant company.  

Talent Flow Coworking – what doesn't kill you will make you stronger

When I met Isabelle, she was living in Vienna; she immediately struck me as a person on a mission. "Who are you, and what is your project?" she bluntly asked. We quickly fell into conversation. I told her about our project. It turned out it resonated with some ideas she has. Isabelles project is called Talent Flow Coworking. She has been kind enough to tell us more about herself and the place she's creating. Ladies and gentlemen, here is a woman with grit.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I studied at a business school in France and an additional year at HEC in a special program for start-ups in 1997. I set up my first company when I was 28 (1996). It was an industrial design and graphic consultancy firm acting in Hong Kong and China providing services to consumer goods manufacturers. With no bank support, I developed the company so that at some point it employed 20 people. I closed the company in 2006 due to the $US/Euro exchange rate, Chinese manufacturers' low profit, and the new local Chinese design competition.

I then went to Austria, learned German, and 18 months later, I set up a real estate agency. Very soon, I had specialized in Luxury Real Estate. However, I found that running the business was difficult in terms of creativity, networking and self-development. So I wasn't feeling very happy about it. In 2012, I got a very bad business setback: I wasn't paid a commission of 200K€, went to court for two years, spent 25K€, lost the case and went bankrupt ... That's life – and hey, what doesn't kill you will make you stronger.

Tell us about the coworking space you are creating – when/how did it all begin?

I started thinking about it because one of the designers with whom I've worked with for 18 years started a 400 m² with 80 desks coworking space in Paris. He opened a tiny space in 2004 with some friends; then he got the opportunity to buy 200 m² and later on another 200 m².  He doesn't organize any events or training for the people that are there; the place is working by itself. The atmosphere there is amazing. You can just feel the community spirit and synergies arising from the place. This inspired me to go on a field trip to New York in May 2014. I visited a bunch of places just to understand the activity. I dived into the market and gradually developed a new business idea.

Why are you creating a coworking space? 

First of all, I'm not doing this (entirely) for fun. I want to make a business, i.e., to earn money. I also want a place that'll make it possible for me to keep running my current business, which I started a year ago. I'm exporting cosmetic products from France to China. I also help people find manufacturers in China and just solved two cases in 2014 as a consultant.

I expect the place to facilitate synergies between people, to spark new ideas and businesses. I'll also give me an opportunity to pursue my passion for helping people developing their business. I have a lot of experience in local and overseas business, I know how to start from zero and lay out the steps for growth – and I know how to close a company.

What will be your day-to-day role once you're up and running?

To begin with, I'll be the face of the place, welcoming the new members of the space. From there, what'll happen will depend on the users' request. Mostly, I'll do my best to support them in growing their business by providing experience and network centered around useful training and events. That said, if I'm lucky, I'll be able to create a sense of "our space" and community. If I do it right, people will feel encouraged to contribute to the content, which will benefit first of all their business but also the space.

Why is your space awesome?

Well, I know how it is to be a foreigner wanting to start a business in Vienna. That's why the place will serve as a relay between all chamber of commerce organizations in Vienna and the immigrants who want to set up and run a business here. I'll be able to provide the right information in English (not in German). That's pretty awesome. Furthermore, the place will be great for local Viennese people and businesses that want to interact with creative and entrepreneurial people coming from other places.

How will the space be different from other coworking spaces?

There'll be a lot of diversity. People will spend 10 to 12 hours a day in the space, and so will I. It has to be perfect. That's why I care about design and work to provide quality furniture and a great environment consisting of a mix of work zones, zones for relaxing and playing, a bar and a lounge. I'll use my female intuition to implement a sense of belonging.

What is your biggest challenge?

I've invested my own money. It's a total €300K. That is almost everything I have, and I'm 47 years old, so I cannot make mistakes.

Where do you see your space in 5 - 10 years?

I want to open more spaces with my landlord (the Austrian Post) in Vienna and the countryside. I believe that a mix of presence in the city and the possibility to retreat to more quiet rural places close to nature is and will be of increasing value to businesses. The creative workforce is changing rapidly toward micro-businesses and independent workers. My vision is for my place(s) to provide some of the infrastructure supporting a well-organized cluster of extremely agile people and companies that'll be able to find a solution to pretty much any need out there. I think being able to do that is the DNA and, hence, the real value of the coworking movement. 

You can borrow my house and car if I can borrow your mobile home

Have you planned a trip to Klitmøller in your mobile home this summer? Would you like to live like a local in my house in Klitmøller – for free? Well, here’s your chance: Let’s swap! You can borrow my house and car if I borrow your mobile home. How’s that sound? If you are interested, please comment below. I know, there are some details – insurance, etc. – that must be in place first, but there are solutions to that. We'll find those together. If I succeed, we might pave the way for a more permanent home/mobile home swap service in Klitmøller — who knows?

No doubt, most of the residents in Cowork Klitmøller believe that our little village is the center of the universe, especially during the summertime, when the ocean is warmer, the days are longer, and the parties reveal so much more naked skin.

Believe it or not, we – the most dedicated locals – need to go somewhere else to surf, to eat, to get inspiration, etc. The ultimate freedom of a restless person such as myself is to have a mobile home. I can go north to Norway, east to Sweden, west to England, or south to France – maybe even Spain or Portugal. Only time and fuel will limit our mobility.

In Klitmøller, downsizing is not uncommon. It fits the lifestyle of a surfer, where flexibility is the key to the ultimate experience. I encourage myself on a daily basis to let go of consumerism and materialism, to free myself from “things” and focus more on freedom and possibilities.

Along with my boyfriend, I am, however, (still) a house owner, and not a wealthy one. We have three kids and an imaginary rabbit. In other words, sharing and trust are our currency. Renting a mobile home in Denmark is seriously expensive, as is renting a house in Klitmøller during the high season. So here’s a thought:

You, my (most likely German) fellow surfer, can borrow my house if I can borrow your mobile home. No money will change hands. You’ll be nice to my home because you know that I’ll take care of your vehicle.

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Credits to my friend Ole Busk for coming up with the home/mobile home swap service idea.