The Frugal Traveler

NY Times: Three Things I've Learned About Frugal Travel (And the Things I Didn't Do)

I think my favorite bits of advice are:

1) "Frugal" is about value; spending a certain amount for a food or experience that is meaningful to you, whether it is rare or makes you happy.

2) Meeting people doesn't cost money and makes your trip memorable. During all the traveling I've done, I always remember the people I met, they are inextricably tied to my experiences.

Hopefully after this summer of hard work there will be more frugal traveling in store! I have this pipe dream of taking a month off to travel around Central and South America or India or Vietnam/Thailand after I finish my June-January Sports Center/City Hall work marathon.

Chris and I went to Costa Rica this past week (oh my god, was it just last week?!) and it was amazing. What a beautiful country with such friendly and good-hearted people ("pura vida"), adventures galore including horseback riding (my first time), swimming in a waterfall during a torrential downpour and jumping off rocks into the pool below, zip-lining through forests and across a valley for a kilometer, driving manual through the country in our sweet little BeGo SUV. I can see why so many people become enchanted with Costa Rica, and I am one of them now. Even the capital of San Jose, though at first glance seemingly sketchy and dirty, had a lot of character and hidden gems like Nuestra Tierra 24 hour restaurant and the Cafe Teatro Chris found where we watched a hilarious comedy play performance. I am in love with Costa Rica, and my love for that boy has grown exponentially stronger. We traveled so well together and he makes me laugh. I couldn't be happier. It was really difficult for us to return back to the States, we didn't want to leave.

I'm used to this feeling; I've felt it so many times for all the trips I've come back from and coming back from Japan. But it doesn't get any easier. I know I need to work so that I can leave again, but of course I always wish I could just travel and wander and experience wonderful things. But life is good and interesting and I like my jobs and there are interesting people and interesting things to do and see even here at home. I've realized that it's a matter of one's own perspective; anywhere can be interesting and exciting, it's up to you to have the outlook to make it so.

Another Gem from My Guilty Pleasure

NY Times Vows: Dimple Chaudhary and Previn Warren

I am such a sucker for romance...

I Don't Need You...

I just want to be with you and enjoy spending time with you. I HATE it when you call me "needy." I'll try not to "need" you so much. I'm sorry that I like to see you and kiss you and be there for you. What is the point of being together if we don't "need" each other.

Despite your age and the supposed wisdom that should come with it, you're pretty retarded, a paper-procrastinating, unnecessarily stressed-out waste of time. Why is it that men 10 years younger than you can get their shit done AND manage to give me the attention I "need," without getting all stressed out? I know what you'd say to that, you'd say, "Go ahead and leave me for them then." Is that how easy it is to you? Maybe I will, then. No wonder you were alone for so long, and probably would be alone still if we didn't meet: for a man your age, you're pretty stupid when it comes to relationships.

Well, I guess I don't "need" you either. Tomorrow, when you try to call me, I will be unavailable, busy with my own things. GOD, you're so NEEDY!

In Memoriam

This is what he said:

"Walking off alone
with your back to the one
you said you loved.
Stepping out of skin
we grew together in as never ending,
but you ended it.
Unprepared for the hardened coldness.
I could not detect it in your eyes.
And every moment that I had to give
was dedicated by your side.
Of all the nights we held each other dear,
never did I dream your grip would end.
And your breath against my neck
I fear was my only reason for breathing.
I will always miss you.
According to the facts so casually you lay before me,
off your interest died.
I'm nodding with your head
just to agree and going against what I know in mine.
I need a promise not a prediction
on when this well resolve.
Ok. If it is never then at least I know.
I'll go without my dignity
and say I will always miss you.
I am a skeleton on display."

- Now It's Overhead, "Skeleton on Display"

I'm going to guess that was for me...It hurts. This isn't easy. But it is ineluctable.

Some Lists

Things That Make Me Feel Shitty About Myself:

- My mother and her thankless demands
- Steve and his emotional abuse
- Old "friends" who don't understand or care to try to understand my time in Japan
- People who make me feel like I am incapable of doing things even though I've already done them in my life

Things That Make Me Feel Happy and Good About Myself:

- Spending time with Chris and his own joie de vivre
- Working at the Sports Center with fun and supportive co-workers
- People who give me opportunities and responsibilities
- Talking to those friends from all over the world who are adventurous and easy-going

Goals for the Summer:

- Cut out those negative influences from my life, or at least don't let them get to you
- Work your ass off and save all your money so you can move the fuck out, have your own space, and be happy and at peace again
- Surround yourself with those positive influences and keep those people close to you

This is my life, I have a right to be happy. Things that do not make me happy are not welcome in my life. I will do what I need to do to make my life a happy one.

Cleaning Up

Am feeling like I want to go minimalist on Facebook, but I want to retain my lists here, just in case I change my mind. Not sure why, just how I feel right now. Kinda empty and bare.

Interests:
anything traditional
autumn
beaches
being outdoors
biking
books
booty-shaking music
Cambridge
classic rock
coffee and tea
English etymology
EXILE
Greek and Latin
Kyoto
letterpress printing
long distance running
onsen
pottery
shodo
woodblock prints
worldwide travel

Favorite Authors:
J.M. Coetzee
Milan Kundera
Jhumpa Lahiri
Haruki Murakami

About Me:
Steadily accumulating small realities.

And Back Down Again...

Fuck, I am an emotional rollercoaster. Just yesterday I was feeling fantastic, spending time with my boy and going for a run on a beautiful day. Today, I get off of work and my boy wants to veg out at home. Even Steve doesn't want to talk. I am alone with my thoughts and with boredom, lacking the motivation to do anything productive after a shift at work. I wanted to go out, even just to get some Tap Ex or something, but a) I'm trying not to spend money and b) I'm trying to cut back on unnecessary eating. Or I wanted to see my boy. Instead I'm sitting at home trying to talk to my ex and feeling really fucking antsy. I wish I had my own place. I think that's all it really comes down to, as it always does when I feel like this, when I slow down and have too much time to myself. I want my own place and companionship. More money wouldn't hurt either. It hurts me when Chris doesn't want to hang out. I hate being alone in my childhood room surrounded by all my shit with nothing to do. I am not fucking happy right now. Maybe this is why I try to stay busy so much, so I don't have to stop and think and be alone with my thoughts? This fucking bites.

Feeling Kind of Crazy, Carefree Today

Yesterday was a beautiful Sunday. After an amusing staff meeting at the Sports Center, I raced over to Chris', where he sauntered down the driveway to meet me, sans shirt. I almost died. I don't think I've ever gone out with anyone that I was so uncontrollably, physically attracted to. It's quite exhilirating.

I took him to Garin Park, which was more beautiful than I remember it being. I mean, I always knew it was a great place. I ran countless miles at the park over the course of 4 years, and know those trails by heart. But yesterday was fantastic. We ran to the staircase, through the valley and back. My monkey boy climbed a tree, then we climbed the huge hill right by the barn. Then we did planks and got burritos at Tacos Uruapan. Garin is magical, really special. Yesterday we were running back through the valley and I had one of those moments where I realized that sometimes to really appreciate something completely, you have to go away and come back and see it with eyes that have seen other things in the world. Garin is one of those places; I've been to so many countries and seen a lot of things and Garin is just great. It was really cool to be able to share that experience with someone not from my XC team, someone equally special to me. I love how we can keep up with each other. I love having someone to run and be active with, whose bum I can squeeze or make out with after, all sweaty from running. This is bliss.

The rest of the evening was taken up with a much needed shower, watermelon leftovers from my meeting, chocolate costco cake and cookies and cream ice cream, and a movie, "An Education." Then we passed out, understandably.

I'm happy right now and I hope it stays this way. I have -$245 in my bank account right now and am impatiently waiting for my pension. I have boxes of shit to unpack, 8 months on, and lots of people that I owe letters and e-mails. But right now, it's warm outside, I am alone at home, and I still have another 2 hours until I have to be at work. I know what stress feels like and right now I am not stressing. I feel like I could give a shit about anything bad right now, and it's a great feeling.

Buenas Noches

We're going to Costa Rica in 15 days. HOLY CRAP!

Had a 11.5 hour reception with Connor at Holly today for a Santo Nino prayer group. They insisted we eat (we did). They also insisted we come and get healed (we did). It was interesting, having all those Santo Nino statues lined up in front of the stage, and having a woman rub my hands with baby oil and touch my forehead and shoulders while saying something in a language that sounded like Hindi, despite the fact that it was a Filipino group. They told me to close my eyes and open my heart. I did; it was warm and meditative. They were the nicest, most generous people at a reception I've dealt with so far. Life is interesting.

Gotta go here (!): Cartagena, Colombia

And gotta read Love in the Time of Cholera (Gabriel Garcia Marquez).

Good night, Buenas noches.

He Fell Asleep After...

Last night, I hung out with Chris for a few hours after work, left, came back, got mine, then tucked him into bed and locked the door behind me as I left and drove home.

Oh crap...was that a booty call?

And if it was, why am I so amused? Thinking about it makes me smile to myself. Damn I'm a pimp. Holla!