Self-hosting is having a moment, even if it's hard to define exactly what it is.
It's a niche that goes beyond regular computing devices and networks but falls short of a full-on home lab. (Most home labs involve self-hosting, but not all self-hosting makes for a home lab.) It adds privacy, provides DRM-free alternatives, and reduces advertising. It's often touted as a way to get more out of your network-attached storage (NAS), but it's much more than just backup and media streaming.
Is self-hosting just running services on your network for which most people rely on cloud companies? Broadly, yes. But take a look at the selfh.st site/podcast/newsletter, the r/selfhosted subreddit, and all the GitHub project pages that link to one another, and you'll also find things that no cloud provider offers.
The author (not pictured) ended all his toxic relationships.
fizkes/Getty Images/iStockphoto
I felt anxious about my social life, and some of my friendships were toxic.
I decided to end those toxic friendships by cutting out people I couldn't trust.
Some of them I ghosted, and others I had a talk with, but I'm much happier now.
When I decided to improve my life and eliminate all the toxic relationships around me, I started with the usual suspects: lovers, food, work, and alcohol. It wasn't easy, but life became much simpler. Yet, something still felt off when it came to my social life — a lingering feeling of anxiety.
With the help of my therapist, I discovered there were still some toxic friendships in my life that I hadn't been aware of until I gained clarity.
I was shocked to realize that some people who had been in my life for years or had shown me genuine love were, in some way, now causing harm — even if unintentionally. The reasons varied: carrying unresolved emotional baggage, offering one-sided support, or radiating negativity.
The weight of it all was overwhelming, and I had to make the difficult decision to end some of these friendships. It's one of the smartest choices I've ever made.
I had to separate my friends from my acquaintances
My first step was to categorize the people in my life to truly understand who deserved the title of "friend" and what that word actually meant to me.
As someone who has moved around the world and lived in bustling cities, I've naturally made a ton of connections. But the lines between acquaintances and friendships blurred over the years.
I had to first understand what made a friend a friend and an acquaintance and an acquaintance. For me, a friendship requires both trust and emotional support.
Those became my parameters for evaluating my friendships.
I then tested my friendships
The next step was figuring out which friendships were worth keeping in my life. After some difficult weeks, I realized it wasn't about the drama I was willing to tolerate, the amount of time we spent together, or how often we saw each other.
It was about what they genuinely added to my life. It was about who I could trust and who offered emotional support.
So, I evaluated every aspect of each friendship. If the overall result was positive and they brought something meaningful to my life, they were keepers. If the result was negative and they consistently took something away, it was clear they needed to be let go.
With that in mind, it was just a matter of deciding how to break up each friendship.
There were a few approaches I took to ending friendships
I had no experience whatsoever with breaking up with friends. The idea itself felt strange — even in my head. No one ever talks about it, but I was ready to move forward.
While these relationships were ultimately toxic for me, I approached them with empathy and kindness as a starting point. In the end, though, it was about prioritizing what I needed and how I felt.
Some breakups were passive, involving a gradual reduction in interactions or "quiet ghosting." Others required explanations — a thoughtful message, a phone call, or even an in-person conversation. In the most extreme cases, I had to abruptly cut ties, blocking them on social media and offering no explanations.
Navigating these situations was challenging, especially within groups where mutual friends started asking questions.
But after a few breakups, I began to feel something I hadn't in a long time: happiness and freedom.
I now have a new approach to friendships
I have normalized this process in my life and now apply it to all my relationships, including those with family. Life is too short and precious to spend it with the wrong people.
Today, I enjoy a simpler social life that allows me to focus my love and energy on those who truly and deeply care about me. The anxiety and unnecessary people are gone, but the good memories will always remain.
In what is becoming a sadly regular occurrence, two popular free software projects, X.org/Freedesktop.org and Alpine Linux, need to rally some of their millions of users so that they can continue operating.
Both services have largely depended on free server resources provided by Equinix (formerly Packet.net) and its Metal division for the past few years. Equinix announced recently that it was sunsetting its bare-metal sales and services, or renting out physically distinct single computers rather than virtualized and shared hardware. As reported by the Phronix blog, both free software organizations have until the end of April to find and fund new hosting, with some fairly demanding bandwidth and development needs.
An issue ticket on Freedesktop.org's GitLab repository provides the story and the nitty-gritty needs of that project. Both the X.org foundation (home of the 40-year-old window system) and Freedesktop.org (a shared base of specifications and technology for free software desktops, including Wayland and many more) used Equinix's donated space.
Jess Evans founded Bored Of Dating Apps after being constantly disappointed by dating apps.
Her events offer an alternative to meeting someone online, focusing on real-life connections.
There's one very important rule: no ghosting each other.
When Jess Evans was going through a horrible breakup a few years ago, she did what many people do in that situation: downloaded some dating apps.
"What I found there was just your usual string of disappointing experiences," Evans, 33, told Business Insider. "It was just one disheartening experience after the next."
Vowing to ditch the apps for good, Evans thought about other ways to meet someone. Uninspired by the options, she called up a friend and told her she was going to put on her own one-off dating night.
As a journalist with no events experience, Evans worried it would be a flop. But it wasn't. More than 200 singletons looking for love showed up.
That was in February 2022, and Evans hasn't looked back. Bored Of Dating Apps events now take place in London and Manchester in the UK, and launched in New York last year.
It's been so successful that BODA is now Evans' full-time job. She also met her now-fiancee at one of the events, so she swears by how effective they can be.
"Even if they haven't met someone romantically, people go home feeling so much better," she said. "They're like, oh my goodness, I can't believe how many amazing single people there are. It's just about getting off the apps and actually getting people in the same space."
Bored of Dating Apps holds events in cities around the UK and has branched out to New York.
BODA
People crave real-life connections
Many agree that dating apps aren't fun anymore, with Gen Zers in particular rejecting them. A Forbes Health survey of 1,000 Americans last year found that 79% of Gen Z respondents said they were experiencing dating app burnout.
This trend has left some apps struggling. Shares in Match Group, which owns Tinder, Hinge, and Match.com, have fallen 64% over the past five years as the number of paying users dips. Match also announced layoffs last July.
Evans has also noticed people fighting back against the surface-level dating culture that apps promote.
Rather than judging someone on a few photos and a list of vague interests, you get to take them in as a full person. After all, a profile cannot tell you whether you will have chemistry in person.
When she was on the apps, Evans said she felt like she was constantly battling against the perfect idea of a woman. The curse of dating apps is that they encourage you to think the grass is always greener, rather than see all of the good traits of the person you're seeing. Some call this the paradox of choice.
"There's always someone hotter or taller or thinner or someone with a better job, or someone who holds their pen in a particular way so you don't get the ick," Evans said. "As long as we were only ever hooking up, the apps would always have you back in their pocket again."
One of the biggest lessons Evans has learned is for people to embrace dating outside their "type."
"When we look at exactly what that type is, it's often quite an outdated tick list of ours," Evans said. "Someone that we think we ought to like layered over time with our 14-year-old teen crush on an American show doubled with a familiar face of an ex-boyfriend in university that it didn't work with."
Dating apps have led people to shut out people who they could have had a "beautiful relationship with," Evans said, simply because they didn't look exactly right on the surface.
"Because they haven't fitted their rigid, on-paper litmus test, they haven't given it a go," she said. "We've been judging people so much on just a few words on a page."
Some BODA events are mixers, while others are held in bookshops.
Bored Of Dating Apps
Finding love and a community
There's one golden rule anyone attending a BODA event must follow: ghosting is strictly prohibited.
"We want everyone to look after each other," Evans said. "So if you meet someone tonight and go on a date with them, please don't ghost them after."
Evans said this basic rule of social interaction has been lost along the way, largely because of dating app culture.
This cycle is particularly frustrating for people in their 30s who may have friendship groups full of people settling down, getting married, and having children.
Evans felt this way herself. She felt isolated as her friends became more occupied with their own families, and spare cash once devoted to nights out with the girls was set aside for family holidays and living expenses.
BODA gave Evans the opportunity to socialize and find people in the same situation, and it has become a community as well as a place to find love.
"It felt amazing to have those friendships where we could have loads of fun together and go out on a night out together and wing woman for each other," she said.
The art of the spontaneous flirt
FInding community is just as important as finding love, says Jess Evans.
BODA
BODA events include socials where singles can mingle and "meet-cutes" in bookshops, which mimic the old ways of flirting and meeting a potential match in the wild as depicted in romcoms.
"So many people, both men and women, have just really, really wanted to lean into the element of that romance," Evans said. "People are really, really craving romance right now."
Other past BODA events include hikes, supper clubs, painting evenings, and yoga, where people can practice the art of what Evans called "the spontaneous flirt."
The goal is for people to find deeper connections — and that's working for some. Evans told BI there have been 15 engagements and a "BODA baby" since the events started.
That's what makes all the hard work worth it, she said. "I'm such a hopeless romantic. I love that I get to watch people fall in love."
The author (not pictured) was ghosted by his best friend.
ridvan_celik/Getty Images
My best friend and I met in New York, and then we moved to Denver.
Once we moved, our friendship changed, and he suddenly ghosted me.
I tried to understand what I did wrong, but I'll never truly know.
I recently endured my first friendship breakup — one that caught me off guard and ended without explanation.
Seven years ago, I was living in New York when a mutual friend introduced me to a guy with similar interests and personality traits. We even identified with the same sports teams. We made each other cackle by reciting foreign accents or comedy bits while also melting into couches while spinning Pink Floyd vinyl.
As we spent more time together, we grew side-by-side, investing in each other's personal growth.
During the pandemic, I moved to Denver, and after two years of staying in touch, he followed me because he wanted easier access to nature. But not insignificantly, he moved knowing I'd be there for him.
That move would ultimately cause the end of the friendship, leaving me hurt and confused.
We no longer fit together in Denver
The early reconnection was joyful chaos. We'd golf on gorgeous mountain courses, hit the bars to watch soccer, and, most importantly, continue laughing.
As he settled in, I tried expanding his social circle by introducing him to my friends. Unfortunately, this wasn't as seamless as I hoped.
I then spent more time traveling than staying put in Denver last summer. When I returned in the fall, I reached out to hang out, but uncharacteristically, he didn't respond.
After a few more texts, I still hadn't heard from him. By the fifth unanswered text, I was no longer in denial. One of my favorite people was ghosting me.
I tried calling him. After no response, I texted to express if I had done something wrong, I wanted to apologize.
My desire to right the ship ended up in capsizing
My friend took two weeks to respond — a gestation period to draft three paragraphs.
In his mini-essay, he shared that he didn't want to be friends anymore and asked me not to contact him. The friendship was over.
I'd like to believe my lack of response was due to acceptance, but it was likely because I was speechless.
A few months prior, he and I were flexing the bounds of our connection, from quoting the crudest moments of "South Park" crudest moments to having an articulate, heart-to-heart chat. Now, he wouldn't even acknowledge my presence.
I tried to figure out what exactly went wrong
As this was my first overt friendship breakup, I tried to figure out where I went wrong.
My initial reaction was to recreate scenarios between us and analyze everything. Was it something I said? Could I have done something differently? Could I have hung out with him more?
Those questions were all dead ends. After enduring weeks of rumination, I uncovered a harsh reality.
When a friendship ends, you're not entitled to know anything
At work, a sudden termination is often followed by answers explaining exactly what you did wrong in the role. A divorce needs reasons to influence legal and financial implications. But with this friendship breakup, there was no need for explanations.
My nebulous misdeeds were no longer the point. I just had to accept that whether he was my friend for a reason or a season, he wouldn't be for a lifetime.
Fortunately, I found the silver lining.
Losing one best friend made me wake up and double down on appreciating my current close friends. That doesn't just require being present for the good times; it's about being there through it all. It also means communicating any discontent so that I won't be blindsided again.
You may have even been love-bombed during an interview and told you were the ideal candidate, only for it to be crickets afterward.
Greenhouse may have an explanation. It found that between 18% and 22% of jobs listed with it in 2024 were appeals for new workers that never actually got filled.
The hiring platform surveyed 2,500 workers across the US, UK, and Germany, finding that three in five candidates suspected they had encountered a "ghost job."
In analyzing the data, Greenhouse found that about a fifth of the jobs posted on its platform could be classified this way — jobs that go up on boards but don't actually exist.
"The data highlights a troubling reality — the job market has become more soul-crushing than ever," Jon Stross, Greenhouse's president and cofounder, said in a statement.
Spotting a fake job ad
Ghost jobs are not a new phenomenon. Business Insider reported in 2022 on a survey of 1,000 hiring managers conducted by the lending firm Clarify Capital. Half of managers said they kept job postings live even when they weren't actively recruiting because they were "always open to new people."
A Resume Builder survey last May found that seven in 10 hiring managers also think it's "morally acceptable" to post ghost jobs, while three in 10 companies have posted fake listings.
Other reasons for putting up these ads include giving the impression of company growth, placating frustrated staff members, or holding out hope for the perfect "unicorn" candidate.
While hiring managers may see the benefit, in reality, ghost jobs frustrate candidates and erode trust in the process, BI's Tim Paradis reported last year.
The Wall Street Journal reported that in response to persisting ghost jobs, Greenhouse and LinkedIn now have a verification feature to help candidates weed out ads that may be a waste of time.
Some ways to identify a ghost job, BI previously reported, include it being up for 30 days or more, can no longer be found on the company's website, or a vague description of the role and its requirements.
Winter is a great time to break out a deep red wine.
CandyRetriever/Shutterstock
As a sommelier, there are a few red wines I like to keep on hand for the holiday season.
Sparkling reds can add a special touch to a festive gathering or big dinner.
Cesanese and teroldego are some of my favorite Italian reds.
When I started my career in the wine industry over 15 years ago, I drank red wines I didn't enjoy just because I thought they were high quality.
Turns out I couldn't train myself to like them. Luckily, however, I eventually found a few reds that always seem to please me and any guests I'm hosting.
Here are some of the red wines I've been buying lately as a sommelier.
I live near Rome, so cesanese is plentiful.
Cesanese is a dark red-grape variety.
andrea federici/Shutterstock
Cesanese del Piglio is the first DOCG of Lazio, the region where Rome is located. This means it's been rated one of the highest-quality Italian wines.
The beautiful wine grape grows in the foothills of the Apennines Mountains.
Cesanese has aromas of cherry, sweet spices, roses, and often black pepper. The tannins are pretty light, too, so bottles don't have to age long to be enjoyed.
It pairs best with fresh pasta dishes, heavy meat sauces, and seasonal porcini mushrooms.
Zinfandel has a whole new image.
A good glass of zinfandel is great for a cold winter night.
VDB Photos/Shutterstock
When most people think of zinfandel, they picture the pink-hued boxes of white zinfandel from the '80s and '90s.
This hasn't given it the best reputation among wine drinkers and professionals.
However, winemakers in California have started to reimagine zinfendel. They're making gorgeous, robust reds from the old white-zin vines.
These are well-constructed, spicy wines with lots of dark berry aromas. They're often labeled "jammy," so if you like a fruit-forward bottle, this is for you.
Teroldego reminds me of summer, even in the dead of winter.
I drink as much teroldego as I can when I vacation in the Dolomites.
Nothing tops a well-made glass of teroldego for me. When I open a bottle back at home near Rome, I'm immediately transported to those alpine summers. Think wild berries, pine needles, freshly turned earth, cut grass, mountain streams, and medicinal herbs.
The flavor is complex and bright, and it's perfect to pair with the region's heavier cuisine, such as polenta with chanterelle mushrooms, knödel, and fondue.
I always have a case in my cellar.
This is your sign to try some sparkling reds.
Champagne isn't the only wine that comes with bubbles.
Smile_UA/Shutterstock
Sparkling reds aren't as well known as their white counterparts, but they are the perfect pizza wine. I like to keep some on hand for more casual dinners and gatherings.
One of the most famous sparkling reds is Lambrusco from Emilia Romagna. However, winemakers worldwide are producing delicious, naturally sparkling reds in the pet-nat style.
The best ones are made from high-acidity red-wine grapes. Look for sparkling shiraz, dry Lambrusco, Gamay-based vin du bugey, and my personal favorite, barbera frizzante. It's made from the barbera grape and is known for its high acidity and food friendliness.
Saperavi is one of the oldest domesticated red grapes.
Saperavi grapes come from Georgia.
VGI/Shutterstock
Saperavi, originating in the country of Georgia, is one of the oldest known domesticated red grapes in the world. Today, you can find bottles from Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Australia, and even the Finger Lakes in New York.
These wines look almost black because they contain high levels of anthocyanins (water-soluble pigments).
The wine is often complex, with aromas of cassis, blackberries, spice, earthiness, cherries, leather, and licorice. A bold glass of saperavi is great on its own, but it also pairs well with lamb or game dishes and cheese-based sauces.
Rosé is popular for a reason.
Rosés are getting darker.
Photo-Graphia/Shutterstock
Today's rosé wines go beyond the blush-pink bottles of yesteryear. I love that they can give you the flavors of beloved red-wine grapes without the heaviness.
I lean toward deep-hued rosés made from grapes like grenache, Sangiovese, teroldego, and even cabernet sauvignon. Italians also have a long history of producing darkerrosato wines such as Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo and Cerasuolo di Vittoria.
If you can't decide between red and white next time you're hosting, this is a great compromise.
There are a few mistakes that should be avoided when hosting for the holidays.
DragonImages/Getty Images
Business Insider asked etiquette experts about the mistakes to avoid when hosting for the holidays.
It's important to make sure everyone feels welcomed — even unexpected guests.
Hosts should also ensure there is enough seating for everyone at the party.
Although hosting friends and family for the holidays can be fun, there's no denying that doing so also comes with its fair share of stress. Without proper planning, things can even get chaotic.
To avoid making etiquette mistakes in the process, Business Insider asked two experts to share the top mistakes they see people make when hosting. Here's what they said.
Don't chastise guests for bringing an unexpected plus-one
Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert and the owner of the Protocol School of Texas, told BI that hosts should never reprimand a guest for bringing an unexpected plus-one.
If this happens, she said to address the issue later — not in front of others.
"You don't want to reprimand the guest or the guest's guest in front of anyone. Later on, you can say, 'Sally, I wasn't expecting a plus one because it kind of put me in an awkward position with other people.' But you can say that privately at another time, not that night," Gottsman said.
Make sure there is enough seating for all guests
Use your head count to ensure everyone has a place to sit.
Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock
When it comes to seating, it's important to double check your head count and ensure everyone has a place to sit. Gottsman said this should also be done for more casual events like cocktail or dinner parties.
"You want to have enough seating for people," Gottsman said.
Avoid creating a chaotic environment
Etiquette and hosting expert Carla Shellis said another common mistake hosts make is not considering how they want their event or home to feel.
By yelling and scrambling to get things done at the last second, the host can unintentionally leave the space feeling more chaotic than welcoming.
Gottsman shared similar thoughts, telling BI, "When the doorbell rings with your first guest, you should not still be in your hair rollers, or lighting candles, or racing around talking about how busy you are."
To combat a chaotic situation, Shellis likes to play music, light candles, and clean the space before her guests arrive. She also gives herself plenty of time to get everything done so she doesn't have to rush.
Be cautious when serving alcohol
Alcohol can sometimes do more harm than good at a party.
wilpunt/Getty Images
Shellis told BI that serving too much alcohol is an easy way to create unnecessary issues at a party. That's why it's important to ensure everyone is enjoying themselves in moderation.
For instance, Shellis said when people ask her if she has any more wine, she'll say no and redirect them by offering other beverages like iced tea or soda.
"For 30 years, I've been hosting parties, and I'm going to tell you there's nothing that will kill a beautiful environment quicker than somebody that's hammered and acting foolish," Shellis told BI.
But the same pattern may apply to the workplace, too. Many job seekers complain of inconsistent behavior from hiring managers, CNBC reported, being flattered and praised one minute and ghosted the next.
"Love-bombing during job interviews happens all too often when recruiters or hiring managers want to keep you interested in them while they figure things out behind the scenes," Renee Barber, the global director of recruiting for TYR Talent Solutions who has over 20 years of experience in the recruitment industry, told Business Insider.
"They may overhype your chances to keep you interested," Barber said. "Especially if they're not ready to make a decision or they need to buy time without being direct about the actual situation."
Janine Chidlow, the managing director of EMEA at the global talent firm Wilson, told BI that love-bombing not only disrupts a candidate's career expectations "but also raises questions about organizational integrity and employer branding."
"This phenomenon isn't new," she said. "But its frequency and impact have surged."
Love-bombing may serve as a "morale-booster" for both candidates and interviewers, Chidlow said.
Amanda Fischer, an executive leadership and career coach who is the founder of AMF Coaching & Consulting, said that some recruiters and hiring managers want everyone they are interviewing to feel optimistic about the role so they don't lose out on the best candidates.
They may also want to create a strong connection so the candidate to make them less likely to negotiate further.
"In this particular instance, that is a highly manipulative move," Fischer said.
It may not always be a scheme, though, and some recruiters and hiring managers may be love-bombing without realizing it.
"They could genuinely be excited about a candidate and might not see how the excessive compliments could backfire," Barber said.
There are plenty of ways to recognize love-bombing during the interview stages.
According to Barber, some signs are excessive compliments, like being told you're exactly what the company is looking for, or that you're the best candidate being interviewed, or being given unrealistic promises, such as if they talk about you "being a great fit for the team" or "starting soon" before they've actually made a decision.
Fischer told BI that pressure for a quick decision is also "a huge red flag."
"From my perspective, there are very few circumstances where you should accept a role the moment it's offered," Fischer said.
Barber agreed, adding that if there is a long delay or no communication after the interview, "it's a sign that the praise might have just been a way to keep you interested before they made their decision."
What to do about it
Love-bombing during the interview process is symptomatic of deeper issues in recruitment, Chidlow said.
"While it may yield short-term gains in market perception, the long-term costs — disillusioned candidates, damaged reputations, and high turnover — far outweigh the benefits," she said.
"By prioritizing transparency and respect, organizations can foster genuine connections with candidates, ensuring a healthier, more productive recruitment process."
If you think the person on the other end of the interview desk is love-bombing you, it's good to set expectations early, Barber said.
"Before you wrap up the interview, feel free to ask when you can expect to hear back and what the next steps are," she said. "This can help you keep track of the process and avoid getting strung along."
The Benton's akiya has been transformed into a guesthouse.
Dani Benton.
Dani and Evan Benton moved to Japan on a startup business visa in 2023.
They bought an abandoned house for $6,500 and turned it into a guesthouse.
The couple has also started a homestead with a farm and a beekeeping business.
After six years of running an urban farm and renting an Airbnb in New Orleans, followed by 15 months of travel and house-sitting around Mexico,Dani and Evan Benton were ready for their next adventure.
They knew they wanted to live a simple, rural life but still have access to modern amenities. Ideally, they would also be in an area with a nice climate where they could grow as much of their own food as possible.
Dani and Evan Benton bought an akiya in Japan and turned it into a guesthouse.
Dani Benton.
Their goalhad always been to start a homestead similar to what they had back in the US, and doing this in Japan seemed feasible, especially considering that the country has 8.5 million akiya, or abandoned houses, in rural areas for sale.
It helped that Evan also speaks Japanese, having studied the language in college.
Since they always loved old homes and were keen on the idea of renovating an akiya, they decided to take the plunge.
The akiya hadn't been lived in for a decade, ever since the previous owners died.
Dani Benton.
Applying for the startup business visa
In early 2023, the couple started working toward getting a startup business visa in Japan.
Their visa application required them to submit a proposal detailing their business plans.
In addition to their homestead — which would include honey production and a small-scale farming business — the couple also wanted to open a guesthouse. On the side, Dani, 40, was also planning to offer photography services.
They were drawn to Omishima island, which is over an hour away from Hiroshima airport, partially because it's one of the few areas where the startup business visa is offered.
There were still furniture items left behind in the akiya.
Dani Benton.
"What the startup visa does is it encourages foreign people to move to Japan specifically to start small businesses," Dani, a professional photographer, told Business Insider. "You get residency, and you have six months to do things like open your bank account, incorporate your business, get everything funded, and obtain whatever licenses you may need."
One of the main visa requirements is that the couple invest at least 5 million Japanese yen, or around $32,450, into their business bank account or hire a minimum of two employees.
Their proposal was approved after a few revisions, and they were granted their startup business visas by the end of June 2023.
Transforming an akiya into a guesthouse
A real-estate agent had shown them the property.
Dani Benton.
While they were sorting out their visa applications, the couple also purchased their first akiya, which would be turned into the guesthouse.
Their property-hunting process was smooth because they had been looking at listings even before they left the US. Their eventual plan was to have two akiya — one for the guesthouse and one as their own residence.
"We had a list of houses on Omishima that we wanted to check out in person when we finally made it here," Evan, 41, told BI.
While viewing an akiya — which they would eventually purchase as their residence — their real-estate agent showed them another akiya nearby that hadn't been listed online yet.
The couple paid 1 million Japanese yen for the akiya.
Dani Benton.
The latter was owned by a 75-year-old Japanese man who still lived in the neighborhood. His parents used to live in the house, but they died a decade ago. The house has been untouched ever since, and there were even pieces of furniture left behind.
"That ended up being the guesthouse that we bought," Evan, a former massage therapist, said. "We found our house first, but then we bought the guesthouse first."
They paid 1 million Japanese yen, or about $6,500, for their guesthouse.
"It's like the ultimate recycling project," Dani said. "It's literally saving a whole house and as much of the contents as we could."
The two-story home was built in the 1950s.
Dani Benton.
Thankfully, the akiya was in pretty good condition, and they were able to live in it during the renovation.
"It was mainly cosmetic, so it was just a lot of things that took so much time to clean," Evan said.
The akiya even had a modern toilet that was already connected to the city sewage system.
"But we didn't have hot water for a long time, so while we were doing the renovation, we would have to go down to the public bath," Dani said.
The couple lived in the akiya during renovation.
Dani Benton.
The couple did the bulk of the work themselves and even documented the renovation process on their YouTube channel.
However, they did hire some contractors for assistance since they had a six-month deadline to get their guesthouse up and running.
"If we had had a whole year to do it, we could have done it ourselves," Dani said.
The couple says they spent about $19,000 on the akiya renovation and $5,000 on furniture, appliances, and other household items.
Guesthouse for rent on Airbnb
Dani and Evan aren't alone in being drawn to these old, vacant homes in the Japanese countryside. Due to the shrinking population and internal migration, Japan has millions of unoccupied houses in rural areas.
However, thanks to the low prices and the lack of restrictions on foreigners purchasing property, more and more foreigners are choosing to buy these old homes and breathe new life into them.
The guesthouse is available for rent on Airbnb.
Dani Benton.
The couple's guesthouse is available for rent on Airbnb from 20,000 Japanese yen a night.
They hosted their first guests in November last year, and when their six-month startup business visa was due the following month, the couple obtained a business manager visa.
Omishima is in the middle of a series of six islands that are connected by a long suspension bridge known as the Shimanami Kaido, a famous biking route and tourist attraction.
There is a grocery store and a few local restaurants nearby, as well as a popular shrine and a samurai museum on the island, Dani said.
The couple also have a farm where they're growing vegetables.
Dani Benton.
Like many places in Japan, Omishima is also very safe, Dani said: "We never lock our doors."
Now that the couple has gotten their guesthouse up and running, they'll be focusing their energy on turning the other akiya they bought — which is two minutes away — into their home.
"It was abandoned for 40 years, so it has a lot of work needed," Dani said.
In addition, they're working to establish their farm and honey production business.
The couple are working as beekeepers and a part of their business includes honey production.
Dani Benton.
"We enjoyed Mexican food and really missed it in Japan, so essentially, we're focusing on Mexican vegetables, growing tomatoes, tomatillos, and all kinds of hot peppers," Evan said.
As for honey production, the couple just harvested their first batch of honey from their 12 bee colonies, he added.
The couple has been living in Japan for almost two years, and the biggest lifestyle change they've noticed is that they're more connected with their local community than they were back in the US.
Not only do they know more of their neighbors, the couple also has closer relationships with them.
The couple say they feel more connected to the local community in Japan.
Dani Benton.
"Everyone lives in the same sort of concentrated area, and then they all go out to their fields and meet each other on the way," Evan said. "So we're always having saying hi to people in the street."
Have you recently relocated to a new country and found your dream home? If you have a story to share, contact this reporter at [email protected].
