I want to say thank you to those who always let me stay with them whether it was stateside travel, international travel, quick travel or long-term travel. I want you to know that I really appreciate it. You are my people. And I want you to know that you always have a place to stay with me no matter where I am. Sometimes my places are small, but I have always managed to find space for you. And I always will.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately because after 12 years I’m giving up my rent stabilized studio apartment here in New York City (Staten Island to be exact). Small but cozy.
Whenever I travel I always let friends and family know that I’ll be passing by, but I never expect that they should let me stay with them. I always book accommodations because I don’t assume, unless we arranged it in advance. But I still find it a joy when people insist I stay with them. Even funnier is how in some cases if we go to dinner, I try to pay, but they don’t let me. One time I thought I got away with paying only to find my cousin stuck money in my suitcase later when he loaded up my car. 😁 I think the record was broken when I flew to Denver and decided to drive back cross country in April 2024. I made six stops where I booked or planned to book hotels, but never used any. Not one.
So thanking Justin, Mark, Laura, Grandma(❤), Leslie, Bernie, and Vanessa for that particular trip in which I had not originally planned to drive back. Turned out to be a pretty amazing and heartwarming trip.
I know some of you like to book your own hotel if you’re going to be in my area, but please know you always have a place to stay with me.
