the art of sharing

It’s official, the world is getting smaller. Not literally, of course, but with the explosion of the digital world, social media, blogging, vlogging, skype and all those other ways that we’re connecting to each other it’s amazing how across the world was never closer. And with a down economy, everyone is closing up the wallet and hitting the outdoors or calling up their long forgotten high school buddy to pay them, and their apartment, a visit.  Reconnecting with old ties and forging new ones has never been easier. It is this ability and ease to “drop in” that has further tightened up the world; it’s forming digital and global communities forcing people to return to their roots of simply getting to know something. The trend is happening and it’s happening fast: Web sites like AirBnB, an online house-sharing community to give a place for travelers and those willing to rent out space an online venue to connect, is one. I’ve watched this Web site explode in no less that a few months online, just from its social networking alone, and, let’s face it, tempting userability. It’s making traveling that much easier, and cheaper, and well accessible. Can’t find a hotel? Voila, here is your room for rent in a furnished Paris flat. And now with its new relationship with Fordor’s, it’s latched on to the grandfather of travel guides to breathe new life into an old art.

AFAR magazine is also taking hold, grasping the true meaning of travel, what we all thrive to do when we get away: to connect. While simultaneously embracing the new media platforms, and ever-changing digital world to create a universal community, at its heart lies the desire to enter a community, no matter how big or small, as a local. To get the experience of someone who has lived there–the dive bar, the best time to visit the markets, the local grub, the off-the-beaten path experience–and to meet those that actually do and maybe even share a mojito. Or two.

From music to housing to bike and cars…it’s the what’s mine is your song. Check out this recent blog post of this idea of connecting and sharing…http://blog.rentcycle.com/usership-is-the-new-ownership