Some moments change everything.

Ours happened in Encinitas, beneath towering cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

We had just met, yet we sat there for seven hours straight, talking about everything—life, dreams, and the fire we both felt for building something meaningful.

That day, we didn’t just meet each other—we met our future.

From that moment on, we were inseparable.

At the time, I (Anastasia) was deep in my career as a data analyst at a mortgage company, uncovering patterns in numbers, while Rod was working in construction and project management, bringing structures from ideas into existence.

We both had real estate in our veins, but more than anything, we wanted to create.

For years, we worked, planned, and dreamed.

Eventually, we took the leap—Rod left his job to pursue our vision full-time while I stayed at my 9-5 to keep us steady.

That vision? It didn’t start with beauty.

It started with run-down houses so neglected that our parents cried when they saw them. They thought we had made a mistake.

Maybe we had—until we rolled up our sleeves, poured our hearts into the work, and transformed those forgotten spaces into immersive, culture-inspired vacation rentals.

Why culture?

Because travel has shaped us.

Because a stay should be more than four walls—it should transport you.

The first time a guest told us they felt like they had stepped into a completely different world, we knew we had built something far beyond just a place to sleep.

Now, Rod consults real estate investors, lenders, and builders on their construction projects, leveraging the expertise he has acquired over the past decade.

And I, Anastasia, am building my first startup, Unique Stays, to help people around the world create unforgettable experiences.

From a cliffside conversation to a lifetime of creating—this is just the beginning.