As ever this endeavor reminds me of the things we leave behind, or will shortly. Tracking these lists, and reviewing them, points out changes I’d have otherwise ignored. Usually these shifts indicate job changes, such as my frequent crossings of the El Paso / Juarez border, which ended in 2014 when that job did. Sometimes what appears temporary becomes less so: I haven’t spent a night in China since 2019.
Our travel this year has the look of the familiar, which may explain why 2024 felt quite short. As planned, Japan has become a familiar zone. With visits in February, April, June, August, October, and November, we grew more comfortable in our new neighborhood. Watching Clara remember aspects of Tokyo and exploring it through her eyes has been worth every bit of effort. Even better, we were able to share the city with so many, from family to some of our oldest friends, an aspect of this gift we hope to continue.
Outside of Tokyo we traveled more for work and less for pleasure, with San Francisco for me and Vietnam for Tara the dominant features. Family-wise we limited ourselves to one whirlwind multi-stop tour of the United States, which features here as a chunk of familiar friend and family locations, all of which we’re grateful to have seen. We got enough summer eveningsto catch fireflies more than once, which had been a goal.
In this list of twenty seven beds (for me) I see the patterns of a new age, of toddler-hood and short inter-Asia flights, merging successfully with old habits built around long distance friendships and frisbee tournaments. It’s a good view of who we are trying to be, comfortably out here in the world.
Tai Hang, HK
Singapore (three times, three spots)
Otsuka, Tokyo, Japan (five times)
San Francisco, CA (three times, three spots)
Taipei, Taiwan (three times, three spots)
Oakland, CA (once, two spots)
Fort Collins, CO
Walden, CO
Manhattan, NY
Brooklyn, NY
Cherry Hill, NJ
Philadelphia, PA
Rumson, NJ
Fukuoka, Japan
Chennai, India (twice, two spots)
Bangkok, Thailand (once, two spots)
Atami, Japan
Prior lists visible here.