"Where Do You Actually Live?"
a color-coded explanation
“Where do you actually live, Blake?”
It’s a question I’m frequently asked—and a question that’s not easy to answer.
I don’t have a house or apartment. That’s simple enough.
Some people assume that I’m always camping. But unless I’m on a serious adventure, I prefer a bed to a Thermarest. At the moment, I don’t even have camping gear.
I’m not staying in hostels, hotels, or Airbnbs very much. I don’t have the budget or taste for that.
Mostly, I’m staying with people.
I know a lot of people. I’m good at meeting them, I’m good at staying in touch, and I genuinely enjoy connecting (and reconnection) with friends, acquaintances, and the occasional stranger as a short-term houseguest.
Many of these people are co-workers from the two summer camps where I’ve worked since the early 2000’s. Others are from the world of partner dance. Some I met while traveling, some are friends-of-friends, some are family members, and some are romantic interests. Some I’ve known for half my life. Others I’ve known just a few days.
Every once in a while, I also stay with interesting strangers through hospitality networks. Many of these connections are fleeting, but a few turn into longer-term friendships. (Whenever I have my own place, I also try to host fellow travelers.)
Below is a visual explanation of where I’ve laid my head each night for the past five months while traveling around Europe.1 Purple indicates friends. Green indicates an Airbnb, Booking.com, or hostel. Orange indicates hospitality networks. And the rare dark grey is an overnight train.
For the record, this is a particularly nomadic period of my life. In February and March, by contrast, I was renting apartments in Patagonia and Buenos Aires. Later this year, I’ll be renting apartments again. It’s not always like this.
In case you’re wondering, I’m spending €0-€20/night with friends & hospitality network hosts and €25-€60/night for paid accommodations.