Short-term rentals have taken over our block in the Sanders Beach neighborhood. 

By last count, there are five up and down the street. We have them on both sides of us. As there are no more homes for sale, perhaps that is the last of them. 

I'm not saying it's a bad thing. Most of these visitors are pleasant and respectful, at least around our house. They come and go quietly, for the most part. I haven't lost a night's sleep to noise from an STR yet. 

Coeur d'Alene, as most know, has a proliferation of STRs. Some say they will ruin the city's character and community feel, destroy neighborhoods and introduce strangers into our midst. Perhaps. But I don't blame people who own and operate them. It's a good way to make money, maintain access to private property and ensure it's maintained. 

It's generally easy to tell if a home is an STR. 

For starters, there will be several chairs in a neat circle around a fire pit — a dead giveaway. 

There is also likely a cornhole game set out in the front yard.  

If you see numerous bikes secured near a house with a combination lock linking them together, those are for guests. 

A chess set with those giant pieces on the deck is a sure sign. 

Vehicles with Washington license plates lined up on both sides of the street, often parked the wrong way outside a home, are telltale signs of an STR. 

And if you take a stroll down the alley, those trash bins overflowing with cans and bottles are a good indicator of an STR. 

We have come to accept random people, young and old, walking, riding bikes and driving trucks and RVs past our home at all hours. They come and go harmlessly enough. The only issue I ever had was with kids who decided they needed to swear loudly whenever they passed by.

There is an advantage to living with STRs nearby. 

I didn't really care for one of our neighbors (to be fair, they didn't care for me, either), so I was quite pleased when they finally moved away, and their home quickly became a rental. But I miss the neighbors on the other side, who were kind and encouraging and even offered story tips.

STRs are generally well kept and nicely landscaped. Front porch lights on. And the people who rent them, at least on our block, are not there to raise hell. They're just on vacation.

I don't really have a complaint about STR owners.

In fact, someday, I might join them. 

I plan to buy a second home in Hawaii (well, more likely Sun City, Ariz., as it's far more affordable). Come winter, we'll live there and rent out the Coeur d'Alene home. Come summer, we'll return to Coeur d'Alene and rent out the Hawaii home. 

A man can only dream.

And sometimes, it requires an STR.

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Bill Buley is the managing editor of The Press. He can be reached at [email protected].