Tourists on Anguilla are a godsend and they pump up the local economy. We welcome the landing of each plane. They spend money on food and lodging and love to shop. They keep the seasonal fishing industry alive. They are fun to have around and you see them everywhere strolling along wearing big sun hats and glasses. Cameras are in tow for the diehards who refuse to use a plebeian cell phone. The locals try to be friendly and accommodate their needs for a wonderful vacation experience.
I benefit from this human influx since I rent out my condo when I am gone or living on my boat. In fact, I prefer my floating home most of the time. It is a true retiree’s lifestyle. The condo is nice, however, with a grand view of the water through a big picture window. It is spacious and full of light. It has all the modern conveniences, especially in the kitchen. Guests love it. At least most of the time. I hate the ones who gripe about this or that. The last time I had paying residents, they bitched about the lack of hot water. It caught my attention.
I hadn’t heard this one before so I looked at my current heating system. Maybe the pilot light was out, but that couldn’t be right: the unit is tankless and runs on electricity, and when I got it from https://www.waterheaterwatch.com/, it was the best model they had. I had to resort to an expensive plumber. “You’ve got a beauty here,” he crooned. “It is a new model and certain state of the art. I’ll have in working in a jiffy.” And he did. One hundred dollars later, it was producing hot water on demand. I hoped that this would be the end of the matter.
He promised me that the hot water would not run out and would be consistent in temperature to please each and every guest. I had to believe him. I was about to go fishing for the day. Suddenly, I had a craving for a fresh grilled fish dinner. I am not choosy about the catch as I know what to expect on the island. The next day I queried the renters and they seemed quite content with the hot water heater and thanked me for my quick attention to the matter. “You are a good landlord,” they said. I beamed with pride inside. They couldn’t see me as we were talking on the phone.
I made a nice profit with my crop of guests. If I had to replace the hot water heater, it would not have been a problem. But, alas, it was in great working condition. I can apply the income somewhere else. I can paint the living room, redo the kitchen countertops, put in insulated windows, or maybe a new low-water toilet. There is much to do with any property, especially one built decades ago. Condo owners on Anguilla are attentive to the tourists and aim to please with comfortable rentals. I oblige.