The Language of Love and Motorcycles

I like stories about falling in love. Ashley, my hairdresser met Carlos last November. The relationship started out slowly and in my hearing of it, methodically. She didn’t want it to burn too hot, too fast then burn out. She limited her time with him. Displaying her adulthood, she set boundaries and identified certain days and nights for dates so that each of them maintained their own lives. Slow and steady they grew closer, doing things she liked and doing things he liked.  Neither of them used the L-word.

My appointments with Ashley are staggered, haircuts every five weeks and color every eight. She works some weekends and he often works late shifts. In May, during a color appointment, she told me that a couple days before her "boyfriend" bought a motorcycle. I heard her disappointment in a sigh. Still wondering about the direction the relationship might take, she thought it meant that the little time their schedules allowed them would be further shortened while he rode with buddies. My heart ached for her, she held such high hopes for Carlos being "the one."

At my hair cut two weeks later, the sighs were replaced by sparkles in her voice and eyes. For their next date, he showed up with a new seat on his bike with room for two and a helmet for her.

What could say love better?  

The Sessions - Full Frontal Coming of Age

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS IDEA?

A recent Wall Street Journal article describe a retired couple who sold their home in order to live for a couple months at a time in places around the world. After a couple conversations about that model, I decided that it wasn't right for me, but there is something so intriguing about the concept. I agreed with a friend visiting from England, who said she didn't really like to travel, move from hotel to hotel, but she likes staying with friends. That unfortunately puts a burden on the host. One entrepreneurial friend offers her apartment in Chicago on AirBnB... it means she has to clear out, lock up her personal stuff, live with some goofy guy for the duration, but she makes extra money.

Here's my idea.... what if "Friends" created an underground accommodation system by offering their Empty Nest room, their extra bedroom for a fair fee? Not to host them but to make available a space for a month or os for someone to experience a town? The roomer(s) would pay a room charge, have use of the kitchen and other facilities as agreed upon. Perhaps, their would be an expectation that the room has a tv and internet. Though the focus is not about the visit, certainly at times the owner could invite the visitor to a shared meals like the owners at the Gites in France who made dinner for us.

This idea appeals to me. Friends with Beds. A website of common expectations, suggested pricing, and maybe a registration of friends. What do you think?