Hannah's Hideaway is almost booked out (Labor Day week still available), but Claudia's Surf City still has August availability. I asked the Real Estate Lady why she thought that might be, and she said people find it too rustic.
What has not been mentioned is that it is one of the few houses right on Crescent Beach—almost all rentals on the island require driving to the beach.
And rustic? With a deluxe en suite bathroom in the master bedroom and possibly the world's best outdoor shower, I'm not sure why that should be. Is it the lack of a television? Surely the enormous library and record collection should make up for that. Not to mention DSL. Is it the furniture? I upgraded that last year. No one seems to think (other than me) that a hot tub would help.
The consensus appears to be that what I need is sheet rock and interior trim. My dilemma is that before I do that, I need to switch out the windows, which will require reshingling and retrimming. And I should really redo the roof first.
"I really don't understand these people," says the RE Lady. "Why do they want to go on vacation to live exactly the way they do at home?"
There is a small cohort, mainly old money WASPs and foodies, that actually prefers a bit of rusticity and Chambers stoves, and in hopes of attracting these folks, I posted a Craigslist ad.
Meanwhile, tell your friends and family that there is a place on Block Island where they can retreat from mod cons and get to know one another again. And rent it by clicking on the Claudia's link at top right.
