Jeff & Phil met way back in 1999 in Burlington, Vermont. After many happy years in San Diego and Palm Desert, the couple decided to begin a new chapter—retirement on the island of Oʻahu, where they now make their home in Honolulu.

What began in Palm Desert as a successful vacation rental through VRBO eventually grew into The Desert Rat Residency, where Jeff and Phil opened their home to visiting writers during the summer months. Over the years, the residency welcomed poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers from across the country, offering them time, space, community, and the freedom to focus on their work.

Now, as they make their transition to Hawaiʻi, that spirit continues as The Island Rat Residency. The new residency carries forward the same commitment to providing writers with an inspiring and welcoming place to create—this time surrounded by the landscape, culture, and energy of Oʻahu.

Jeff and Phil have always enjoyed creating spaces that invite people to slow down, settle in, and feel at home. From the many species of cacti they planted and nurtured at their Palm Desert property to the new home they are creating in Honolulu, they continue to make improvements with one goal in mind: creating memorable places and experiences for everyone who visits.

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“The Rat Residency for Writers reminded me who I am as a writer - full of joy and possibility and love for creation. The experience was as much spiritual (however a person defines that word) as it was imaginative. Whether you need introspective time to hear your own voice or whether you want to take in all the magic, life, and history of the area as a spark for inspiration, my time in the desert was pure nourishment. I walked away a stronger writer. I felt cared for in the best way. I can’t recommend this residency enough.“ — Bryan Borland