Ahh, it’s been lovely. It’s been strange. It’s been fun . . . I have some interesting neighbors here at the hotel.

On the other side of a brick wall and alleyway, are some older homes, most of them with junk sitting in the back yards. One morning during a pink and orange sunrise, an old lady dressed like some kind of sherpa with a turban on her head puttered around outside in the cold, hopped on an abandoned, dilapidated exercise bike in her back yard and squeaked out a slow five minute ride.

We’ve got agent Barney Fife as security officer. He always stands in the same spot all night long in the hotel parking lot, his thumbs hooked inside his belt loops.

Across the street is some super secret, massively gated government facility with video cameras everywhere and signs literally every three feet proclaiming in no uncertain terms that no one should try to sneak inside.

Then there are those wierd rapper kids next door who like to slam doors. I’ve never seen them, but let’s just say, we’ve heard one another.

But today . . . today is a great day. Today is my last day living the hotel dream (at least for awhile.)

My long week has been interesting for sure. I don’t mind being ‘homeless’ as the Extended Stay America has truly been a comfortable home on the road. I’ve been a bit anxious, but not freaked out or in a bad mood about the whole thing. It’s actually been alot of fun to live in this way. But things have been compounding . . .

On Monday morning, bright and early, my car battery died. That was the same day my camera battery died and the weekend my phone took a dive. With my long work hours, it’s taken all week to get my car fixed. In fact, I still don’t have it back. Again, I’ve not really been too upset by the whole thing so much as I get a kick out of saying, “I’m homeless and carless in Albuquerque, living in an Extended Stay America with my cat.”

I’m settled in my hotel room finally, with christmas lights, candles and swatches of colorful fabric everywhere. I just know that when I’m gone during the day that the maids have tours come through my room . . . it looks that good.

Travel well tip - In a hotel room, drop the jizz blanket (you know, those nasty bedspreads that NEVER get washed) to the floor. Replace it immediately with an awesome blanket of your own. Notice the change in blankets from a week ago.