We rent out a 215-square-foot tiny home in California through Airbnb. Here's what the pandemic has been like.

• Mike and Margaret Callahan reside on the Central Coast of California in the quaint seaside town of Avila Beach, where Margaret works as a primary care doctor and Mike works as a winemaker.
• The couple rented tiny homes during their European honeymoon and fell in love with the simplicity of the tiny home lifestyle, and the concepts of essentialism and minimalism.
• Inspired by the warmth and hospitality of their hosts, Mike and Margaret decided to venture into the business of renting a tiny home via Airbnb upon their return from Europe.
• The couple has encountered a number of intriguing travelers during their time as hosts — one couple even got engaged onsite, inside the tiny home.
• Although the pandemic has significantly impacted their business, Mike and Margaret are highly prepared to follow any necessary cleanliness and sanitation procedures to host future guests safely.
• This is their story as told to freelance writer Molly O'Brien.

Margaret and I had stayed in a number of Airbnb tiny homes in Europe together over our honeymoon. We often noticed how amiable and happy the hosts were visiting with us — so when we returned, it seemed like a wonderful way to "show off" our own home here on the Central Coast to travelers with an added "personal" touch.

We have a beautiful pasture that the tiny home sits on that feels both open and yet intimate. The opportunities to explore the outdoor spaces are so great here on the central coast, and you can't beat the sunny weather and the clean air. It can be a romantic, yet cost-effective vacation destination for Californians. We think that it's important for people to be able to go on a vacation without overpaying. We work too much here in the US, and in California even more, so it seems; it's important to think about what matters most, and to carve out some time to "get away."

We've had some highly memorable guests over the course of these last two years that we've been renting out the tiny home on Airbnb. We hosted an international couple who got engaged during their visit. I cleaned up flower petals on the bed the next day.

During the beginning of the pandemic we also had a really interesting couple decide to lengthen their stay due to the uncertainty of their jobs back home. He was a travel photographer for an outdoor magazine, and she worked for an outdoor equipment recreational company. They were very "hip, and cool." We ended up having him take some photos of our winery and vineyard — they may even come back and work harvest for us this fall!

We also recently hosted a guest who worked for a clothing distributor. She invited people to come view her new products on our property in a COVID-appropriate, open, outdoor setting — as opposed to individual appointments or in-store visits.

Due to the pandemic, our business lives have drastically changed. I've lost orders from many distributors selling my wines, Maidenstoen Wine. Since I love winemaking, the impact on the wine industry has been pretty tough to stomach. All of our friends here are mostly winemakers and growers. The disruption we've seen in small producers and family-run businesses is hard to overestimate. As opposed to small wineries who are losing business quickly, these larger wineries and grocery store brands that are run by big distributors have alternatively seen an increase in their sales.

In short, we've lost almost two entire months of income. It took us a while to adapt to new protocols, but I already know a lot about sanitation having years of experience working in the wine industry. Margaret is a doctor, so she's pretty savvy about how to stay safe during these strange times. We do what is necessary to keep this property we love. We work hard, but it's not really "work" — it's just the life we have chosen to make for ourselves.

I've told my kids that this is an interesting time, in the way that we can really create our own opportunities for success. I think that "wallowing" is just, well, unproductive. I've been working on some of the most exciting and creative ideas of my career during these past three months. I think that quarantine and the COVID-19 pandemic has given us time to redirect our energy towards being not only successful financially, but through seeking fulfillment via alternative methods such as doing things that positively impact the planet and our community.

We are lucky that San Luis Obispo County has been proactive in promoting safety protocols and small business support. Our community continues to help small businesses by offering access to resources and relief funds. I feel lucky that our neighbors have been staying so strong with us throughout these tough times.