We made it to California!

Living out of a rental car with a spectacular view

Wow, what a week! Sometimes I think the hardest part of traveling is the day before. Packing my clothes and gear wasn’t even the hardest part. Scrubbing the kitchen and bathroom for our guests while we’re gone was the real challenge.

After only two hours of sleep, we left for the airport in the dark with two backpacks, two duffels, and one rolling carry-on.

The plane was delayed by a few hours, which meant we arrived at the car rental place three hours later than our reservation start time for a Kia Soul for 8 weeks. The staff told us we could choose from four sedans, such as a Toyota Camry. Peering in the back windows, it didn’t look like the seats would fold down. There goes our plan to sleep in the car.

We asked about an SUV, which would almost double the cost of our rental. We chose the Camry, but someone else drove that car off the lot as we watched. I had a throbbing headache from not sleeping and then traveling all day. But this car rental was crucial. I pasted a smile onto my face and continued asking questions with my best nice and sweet customer service voice.

Twenty minutes later, we asked about a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, a small SUV/hatchback. The staff initially said no, but came back a few minutes later and offered us the Mitsubishi for the same price as our original rental. Gratefully, we accepted.

When we left the Northeast, it was hot, humid, and raining off and on. The sunny afternoons were delightful for floating in the lake and snacking on wild blueberries.

The Bay Area is a bit cooler during the day, and much cooler at night. The sun feels brighter, more direct. In the evening, the wind picks up.

Blueberries and huckleberries are in season here also—we were lucky enough to see a few on a lovely hike in the hills. The trees are beautiful in their unfamiliarity, huge, colorful, and majestic.

I’m more comfortable among people in the Bay Area than I was in some places in Florida. Because of my gender presentation, a bit, but actually the biggest difference in my comfort is I’m not the only person wearing a mask in stores and indoor venues.

In Florida, wearing a mask can be seen as “an ego trip” and ridiculously unnecessary. In Massachusetts, some people assume you’re sick when you’re wearing a mask. But in California, most people’s assumption is that you’re wearing a mask because you’re trying not to get sick. That aligns with how I think about it.

Imagine sleeping in a hatchback car, if you can, then imagine doing that with an upper respiratory infection. It would be utter misery.

I’m not the only gender-non-conforming person at gatherings and events here, which is great, but I also found gender-non-conforming people in Florida and in Massachusetts. We. Are. Everywhere.

Most importantly, I was accepted into a social group of ducks. They cleaned their feathers and settled down to take a nap right next to me. And no, I didn’t bribe them with food.

I was so uncertain about leaving for this trip. I was building up some momentum where I was: finishing up teaching a rewarding writing class, helping authors with my consulting work, getting some traction with my weekly essays. Then, I’m just going to run away into the mountains for two months.

But going on these trips gives my life seasonality. I’m social, I’m observing, I’m learning, I’m sharing. I’m still online and working a bit, I’m just also hiking among beautiful trees and wondering where I can cook dinner outside in the cold and dark.

The simple details of life (food, water, phone battery, temperate places, beautiful places, meeting people) become constant tiny puzzles, but that frees me from stressing about the bigger picture.

---

For more, check out my trip videos on:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reywrites

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reywrite/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rreykatz

YouTube (mostly shorts): https://www.youtube.com/@reywrites

---

If you’ve enjoyed this issue of Amplify Respect, please, do me a favor - share this with a friend. If any part particularly resonated with you, copy a quote or take a screenshot and share it on Substack or other social media. I’d love to get the word out.

Thanks so much for reading my newsletter. It means a lot to me.

Take care,

Rey