A recent Airbnb gold rush in upscale New York was created by Covid pandemics. Young professionals who can easily work online, are renting vacation spaces in picturesque, rural, small-town locations. Many claim to want to ride out the pandemic in a place with beautiful scenery.
And who can blame them? Add a global pandemic to this story and it’s not hard to see why a very large number of people would want to go this route. Rural vacation locations in small towns are being invaded by clientele from all over America. There is something special about getting away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and connecting back into nature.
A human being surrounded by nature, particularly near bodies of water, experiences profound neurological benefits. This is according to author Wallace Jay Nichols of the book the “Blue Mind.” Nichols points to “a surprising science that shows how being near, in, on, or underwater can make you happier, healthier, more connected, and better at what you do.”
Bodies of water and natural settings tend to be hard to come by in the urban centers. US cities like Los Angeles, California are sprawled out for miles in all directions.
If a young professional can work online in a tiny apartment in downtown USA or work online at a rural small-town vacation Airbnb for roughly the same rate, in the post pandemic world, the city centers would see an exodus.
It’s as if the pandemic has reminded us all about the value of connection to nature. Small town America is experiencing a goldrush.
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