Quem Somos e Por Que Fazemos Isso
Uma introdução amigável para novos membros e um lembrete gentil para quem já está aqui há um tempo
Drew
17 de jun. de 2026 · 3 min de leitura
Há algo a ser dito sobre pausar de vez em quando para se perguntar que tipo de viagem você realmente quer mais. Não só para onde ir a seguir, mas como você quer vivenciá-lo. Quem você quer ser quando chegar lá.
Se você descobriu recentemente People Like Us, seja bem-vindo. Estamos felizes que você nos encontrou. E para nossos membros que estão aqui há um tempo: essa também é para vocês.
Começou de forma simples
A PLU não nasceu de uma grande estratégia ou de um pitch deck. Começou com duas pessoas – Kathy e eu – que adoravam viajar, queriam fazer mais e descobriram que a troca de casas não era apenas uma forma de reduzir custos. Era uma forma completamente diferente de experimentar o mundo.
O que começou como algo que eles achavam que poderia ajudar alguns amigos a viajar mais facilmente se transformou em algo que nenhum de nós esperava: uma comunidade de pessoas que compartilham uma crença genuína em confiança, generosidade e curiosidade real... Sobre lugares, sim, mas mais sobre pessoas.
O que torna a PLU diferente
Quando você troca de casa com outro membro, não está apenas resolvendo o problema da acomodação. Você está entrando na vida de outra pessoa por um tempo. Você vai pegar a cafeteria para onde eles vão a pé nos sábados de manhã. O vizinho que acena. O atalho pelo parque. O restaurante que não tem placa, mas sempre tem fila.
Esse é um tipo diferente de viagem. E isso tende a deixar uma impressão diferente.
A parte que acontece depois
A conexão não termina quando a viagem termina. Os membros voltam e compartilham o que encontraram. Eles trocam conselhos, trocam recomendações, às vezes formam amizades que duram anos além da troca. O que começa como um plano de viagem muitas vezes se torna parte de uma história mais longa.
A PLU funciona porque nossos membros são generosos, não apenas com suas casas, mas com seu tempo, seu conhecimento e sua disposição de confiar em um estranho o suficiente para entregar a chave da porta da frente.
Um tipo de viagem mais silencioso
Não faltam conteúdos de viagem por aí. Plataformas, rankings, recomendações – tudo otimizado para cliques. A PLU sempre foi algo mais silencioso. Um lugar onde o melhor conselho vem de alguém que realmente passou por isso, ficou direito e quer te contar honestamente como foi.
Menos sobre consumir viagens. Mais sobre vivê-la.
Para onde quer que você vá
Seja você parte desta Comunidade há anos ou esteja apenas começando, este é um lembrete gentil do que estamos aqui: viajar com reflexão, conectar honestamente e explorar com mentes abertas e portas abertas.
Estamos muito felizes que você está aqui. 🏡
O novo feed da PLU está aqui — e é nosso
PróximaConheci um membro da PLU em uma plataforma de trem. Eu adoraria encontrá-la
Comentários (28)
Faça login para participar da conversa.
I'm very excited to see what comes from this international roll of the dice and new field of interaction....What a great concept! Lots of gratitude for the company visionaries that began this...and for all of you who have been doing this and have brought it to where it is today! Thank YOU!!
Thank you, Catherine!
Wonderfully said! This is the vibe we picked up when we started following the PLU Facebook page. It felt warm and welcoming, so we took the plunge and joined. We’re so glad we did!
It’s really a unique community. For example, we are going to Montreal for the jazz festival. Our PLU host had no plans to not be at their home. However, when they got my request, they made arrangements to be away so they could accommodate our requests. So much is accomplished with just friendly communications and PLU family generosity. Thanks Drew and Kathy for creating this community.
Tout a été dit dans les commentaires précédents avec lesquels je suis en parfaite accord. Quoi dire de plus qu’un GROS MERCI grand comme l’univers. à Drew et Kathy ❤️
We have been PLU members since the early days. We have only completed one simultaneous exchange, and a 2nd family will be staying in our home next week. We had planned to travel much more, but life got in the way. I still value being part of this amazing community, and I know our time will come. I can't wait to exchange more, be part of a meet-up, and contribute more too! Thanks for everything all of our members do to take care of each other during disasters, wars, AND good times too.
It’s good that you put up these little “why we do it” reminders every now and then. Helps us remember the big picture. It’s about people like us.
Thank you for creating and curating this safe space for exchanging our homes, and lives, with each other. I am proud to be among all of you, ambassadors of aloha. The more we trust, we more we receive. I am grateful!
Couldn’t be truer Kathy & Drew! It’s such a privilege to stay in someone’s home and for others to enjoy our home. We’re so pleased to have found PLU ❤️
I've really enjoyed this platform! Thank you for the thoughtful way you have approached it!
And so much more. A little bit of clothes detergent, a potato peeler, a tiny splash of oil, a café recommendation, a secret little beach, a comfy chair in a sunny spot. The trust we share, the love we feel … it’s all about the the personal touches❣️ And all this love and generosity and trust starts from the top. Thanks for sharing your dream Drew and Kathy❤️💛👏
And I am glad to be part of it. Thank you!
What a lovely message, Drew! We’re founding members too, and since joining PLU we’ve enjoyed so many wonderful swaps. Along the way, we’ve met some truly kind and caring people who have become real friends over the years. We stay in touch even when we don’t have a swap planned, simply because we enjoy sharing life’s happy moments together. To us, PLU feels like one big family — a family where everyone has a special place in someone else’s heart. Thank you for creating such a warm and amazing community!
After making connections years ago on PLU, there are faces in this photo that I’m still looking forward to meeting in person one day. Such a great community you’ve created Drew & Kathy
Great article and PLU has enabled us to meet some amazing friends in many places in the last 2 yrs. We’ve only done 2 actual home exchanges but have been grateful for local “tours”, meals, and the friendships in over 10 locations - just honest people all sharing their cities/towns little gems. Absolutely love the concept. PLU for the win. Now, if only I could retire and do more travel!!
Exactly as home exchange should be. Thanks Drew and Kathy. Our journey over 25 years of home exchanging is only enhanced by PLU.
Yes We are thankful for the opportunities that this community shares,. Really love the way people help others when there’s suddenly a problem. We even change /repair some things in our home , saying „ this will be good for our future guests „.
In the short time since we joined we’ve found exactly what you’ve highlighted Drew. Friendly, inclusive and trusting I will be recommending PLU far and wide. Well done, Tania and I are very grateful for this wonderful site
Well said Drew and Kathy! All true and meaningful. Something else I'd say is that a large piece of the experience is seeing your home and area through other people's eyes, the delight of sharing your life. It's not just enjoying your experience of living somewhere else. It's thinking about someone else sharing your place and what we have made for ourselves here
So glad you had the idea and ran with it all those years ago Drew and Kathy. PLU truly is unlike anything else out there and we are immensely grateful to be a part of it. Thank you
What a beautiful post! Reflects everything we feel about PLU and humanity at large. I suggest you guys be presented with the Nobel Peace Prize 🏆. Long live our noble Drew and Kathy!
Yes, all of the above. PLU has truly enriched our life. And about those friendships? Yes, we had a lovely meeting very recently, with three friends we made through exchanging, and within two weeks we'll have friends staying for the weekend. We exchanged with them in South Korea many years ago. What more proof does one need? So many that we still chat with, meet occasionally, are in touch with.
I've found PLU in th early days and jumped on board staight away. I'm a Founding member and though I was already on another platform, PLU is my Go To place. I've had amazing travel adventures, meet amazing people and gained invaluable friendships over the years. Travelling with home Exchange has change things fosr my in so many ways and as a mentor i'm happy to help new members of to a good start that will get them hooked in the same way I am. And no matter how ctazy a lot people think i am for opening my home, trust strangers etc. I honestly don't care, as home exchanging is such a rewarding way of life on all accounts <3 So am grateful for Drew and Kathys dream they dared to pursue and fullfill <3 <3 <3
So true about friendship that span years. I still regularly chat to past exchangers. They are still very much part of life . I'm immensely grateful for the enrichment PLU has brought.
PLU has changed the way we travel forever. I love stepping into someone’s world and making relationships for life. Thank you Drew & Kathy ❤️
So glad to be a part of this community. Here's to many more years of travel and friendships to come.
Love this and love being a part of this community! Thank you Drew, Kathy, and team!
So well said Drew and so very true ❤️