Barbara is a great host. I stayed with her for three months during the summer in Austin, and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. She has knowledge of the area, and can give useful tips on what to visit and how to get around. I enjoy hiking, so she was able to give me several beautiful locations to visit in Austin. One time, we even went hiking together with a small group at Canyonlands Trails. It was a great experience.
The location was very calm and peaceful. There tree outside the bedroom window was covered in blossoms at one point, making for a picturesque view of the pool. I took a dip in the pool several time during the hot summer. It was especially refreshing, and a nice way to relax a couple of hours. The living room and kitchen were a shared space, and it was nice to hang out in the evenings, eating dinner while watching episodes of the Office (we are both fans of the show).
If you plan on staying long term with a daily commute, you will want to check on traffic conditions since certain parts of Austin are prone to heavy traffic. For me personally, it was worth driving a little longer. All in all, I had a great summer while staying with Barbara.