When I was visiting my old roommates in Dallas, Rachel turned to Rachael (the house must be confusing now) and said, “Tricia is great at traveling.  She made like, how much money?”

“$14,000 a year.”

“And how many trips did you take?”

I paused.  In the last year I’d gone to Puerto Rico, Greece, and several trips in the US to places like New Orleans and San Antonio.  “I try to go somewhere every three months or so.”

Rachael, my replacement in the Saranac house, raised her eyebrows.  “How?” she asked.    Continue reading →