Back from NYC

 

 

I'm back from five days in NYC.  It was a great trip.  Two Broadway shows, some 30k step days, new areas of the city and lots of good food.

It was so surprising to me how the U.S. Open and Fashion Week upended the hotel market last week.  I had three free nights I needed to use.  For the four nights beginning on Wednesday I booked two nights in Manhattan next to Rockefeller Center and one in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  I thought I would add a night to the Williamsburg stay and just pay for it.  I started watching the rates the week before and they were in the $400's.  I decided to wait.  Soon the rate was $750.  On the weekend it was up to $1200.  Monday/Tuesday the rate was still over $800.  I had to do something because I needed Wednesday night.  Even the Pod Hotel in Brooklyn and Manhattan was over $500.  I'm hesitant on two star hotels in NYC.  My bf kept pointing out $125 hotels in the Bronx -- no way. Finally I booked a hotel in the southern area of Brooklyn, near Sunset Park.  It was basic three star and I still had to pay $275.  I will be more careful about timing next time.  Two weeks ago there were good hotels in Manhattan going for $170.

It was good to explore other areas of the city.  I liked Williamsburg.  Domino Park was really nice.  We walked into L'Industrie for lunch with no wait.  I had no issue with Sunset Park either - it seemed safe.  We had lunch at a Mexican restaurant and my bf raved about it.  I had never been to Coney Island, so we took the 30 minute train ride to explore that area.

We walked from 48th St along the Waterfront Greenway (Empire State Trail) to 181st St in Washington Heights, and took the train back.

Once in a while you see crazy stuff on the subway.  Often it's some mentally ill person screaming, but worst case it's violence.  On one train ride there was a loud shirtless black guy who went up everyone on the train and said "You look like....."  He told people they looked like a bookmark or a transmission, and other bizarre things.   Everyone but one person looked down and ignored him.  He came to my bf, "You look like a bok choy."  I tried to keep from laughing.  We couldn't understand what he said to me.  The driver stopped the train and he had to get off.  

Soon I'm going to run out of magic tricks to get free or discounted hotel nights in NYC.   I'm not going to pay even $500, so I'll look at options that are one or two subway stops outside Manhattan.  Or find another city.  I could be content just staying in Brooklyn.  I don't want to stay anywhere near Time Sq again.  After five days I felt like I had enough of NYC.

No trips on the immediate horizon. 

Speaking About Jobs.....

 

We often use the term "W-2" employee in the U.S.  I think of it as a pejorative.  It basically means you're working for "the man".  For those outside the U.S., the w-2 is an earnings tax statement that you (and the IRS) get in January.  You're someone's employee.

Being someone's employee often sucks.  I know this from experience.

So I look at what else is out there that seems like a better gig.  Something with independence, geographic flexibility, decent compensation, interesting......and you as your own boss.

Internet gigs look interesting to me, but I'm sure they are more challenging than they look.  Restaurant reviews, travel reviews, gay travel reviews, creating short clips, so many different ideas.  I hear so often about people working from Bali with an internet business (influencer or whatever) that pays them $50k per month.  What's that old saying?  If it looks too good to be true.....

But there has to be some truth to the internet story or no one would do it. 

My one foray into the internet - this blog - isn't exactly a resounding success with 37 followers after a decade. 

I keep on having these two OF guys called "Wild Boys" pop up in my TikTok.  Supposedly they are making $100k per month.  Who knows if it's true.  They aren't even that good looking and the occasional short clip I see is terrible.  But $100k per month would be fantastic.  I digress, I bring up this extreme example but this isn't, and has never been, something for me.

I'm thinking about some kind of niche I could find for an online business.  This would fit perfectly with the life I want to live.  No great ideas yet.

I had a brief interview for an interim job last Thursday.  The recruiter said, "Oh, you're perfect for this job.  I need you to talk to my boss.  Are you available on Tuesday?"  Do you think she called me on Friday to schedule something?  This is why everyone hates recruiters.  If she wants me, she will call me.  I won't chase her. I'm so frustrated with this.

If I never get anything it's no big deal.  I'll just feel I failed.  Some gig that allows me to work four hours a day from Bali or Tangier is the dream. 

 

 

 

 

Taking Stock

 

Definition:

Taking stock means to pause, review a situation, and think carefully about your options before deciding what to do next.

 

It's now been about sixteen months since I left my job and decided to retire.  I had plans to make it a "semi" retirement.  I would work perhaps three months of the year.  That hasn't happened and I feel like I've done nothing for the last sixteen months.  

I feel like I've done nothing, but that really isn't true. I decided to go back month-by-month and create a high level diary I've what I've done.  This was a good idea because I realize it's not so bad.  I've had a number of trips.  I've been to visit family.  I've traveled with my bf.  I've taken a course.  I've looked for interim work.  I've gotten call backs.  Nothing came through.  I could have looked harder.

The hardest part for me is the boring eight or ten weeks at home between trips.  I am out walking/running, I'm exercising, I'm reading books, I'm taking care of personal business like medical appointments. I am in better shape and stronger.  I'm also wasting a lot of time wandering around my house, looking at TikTok and surfing the internet.  Some would call the last part "brain rot".

Some people retire and give up their home.  They just travel twelve months of the year.  That's not for me.  Some people relocate to Mexico, Spain or some other country.  Also not for me.  Travel for six months plus or minus?  That could work for me.

I knew a guy who retired from high level job.  He was bored and took a job at Starbucks.  I really don't want to do that.

I had some relatives who retired to Florida but also kept a small home on the Maine seacoast for the summers.  In Florida they mainly watched TV and drank manhattans.  Occasional golf and part-time jobs, but a lot of time in front of the tv.  They had about fifteen good years before health issues took their toll.  This is a scary scenario to me.  Watching tv most of the day....omg what a nightmare.  This is what I for sure do not want to do.

On the sofa all day = death.

If I don't find any interim job, it's no big deal.  I don't "need" to do it.  I'm thankful for that.  If I can get an interim job, especially during these few years before ss and medicare, it would complete things for me.    I'll look for some other options.  I need to be a little more creative.

I cancelled my trip to Portugal, Spain, maybe Morocco planned for October/November.  Why did you do that when you are complaining about too much time at home?  Being completely honest, my bf changed his plans and asked to stay at my place for November.  I'd rather cuddle with him here every night than travel by myself.  The emotion that drove the decision.

This weekend I'm "taking stock."  What's working?  What isn't?  What changes do I need to make. 

 

Does this make sense?

 I came across this and it seems to make a lot of sense to me... 

1.  Social media = validation disguised as connection

2.  Porn = loneliness disguised as pleasure

3. Alcohol = escape disguised as entertainment

4.  Drugs = numbness disguised as calm

5.  Endless scrolling = distraction disguised as relaxation

6.  Luxury = emptiness disguised as success

7.  Smoking = dependence disguised as stress relief

 

Asexual

 

Definition: 

An asexual person does not experience sexual attraction – they are not drawn to people sexually and do not desire to act upon attraction to others in a sexual way. Unlike celibacy, which is a choice to abstain from sexual activity, asexuality is an intrinsic part of who we are, just like other sexual orientations. Asexuality does not make our lives any worse or better; we just face a different set of needs and challenges than most sexual people do. 

In this group of gay friends that my bf is on the edge of, there is a gay couple who are engaged.  However, one of the guys in this couple is having an NSA sexual relationship with another guy in the wider group.  "Why would he do that?  He's engaged." I asked.  The answer is that the other guy in the couple is asexual.  I questioned is there really such a thing as asexual?  How can someone be like that?  I've heard the term "asexual" used in a joking fashion about guys, but not as a serious diagnosis.  It is a real diagnosis, and there is actually an asexual pride flag (shown above).

It's important not to judge.  If this is the way the guy feels, then it's his preference, his business.  Maybe he gets satisfaction in a different way.

So many different stories coming out of this thirty person gay group that my bf tells me about.

What I'm Reading

 

I rarely read non-fiction.  This is a new and popular book, and I thought I'd try it.  More than 200 holds at my library.  It's an easy read.  I'm about half way through it.

Change in Plans

I was considering a trip to Portugal, Spain and Morocco in October.  I've nixed it.  No one to go with and my heart just wasn't into it.  Maybe next year.  I am for sure going to do my Asia trip.  Planned departure date January 20th. 

My bf can't extend his lease past October, and he asked if he can spend November at my place.  This is a good trade off for me.

I want to try to do some short road trips in November.  This will be different for me and certainly easier than flying somewhere.

There are no travel deals anymore.  Flying is so expensive now.  Probably because of oil prices and the demise of Spirit.  Flights I could buy for $80 last year are now over $200.

I can't believe another summer is nearly over.  Elections in two months and I'm hoping for real change.  That's the big upcoming event.  It's astounding that Trump sycophants are winning primary elections. Watching Lindsey Graham's sister was sickening.  I keep hearing that his approval rating is down to 33% -- really??  How can it possibly still be that high?