I have to confess. I like hotel living. I find it luxurious
to have someone clean my bathroom and change the sheets and towels. These days,
hotels are offering a “go green” option where they will provide housekeeping
but not change the sheets and towels for three days. I always opt for that. After
all, I don’t change my sheets or towels every day when I’m home. And getting
clean sheets and towels if I stay more than two or three nights is still a treat.
I recently stayed at a hotel that offered a “no
housekeeping today” option. I took them up on it based on my schedule and
needs.
I have learned that even if I do partake in these choices,
and I run out of those in-room packets of coffee, the hotel is more than happy
to deliver some packets to my room. Or I can pick some up at the front desk.
Besides the niceties of housekeeping, hotel living includes
someone else cooking my meals and doing the dishes. Most places that I stay
offer a hot breakfast. If I’m attending a conference or workshop, the conference
often provides breakfast. Hotels also have a restaurant attached, so dinner
after a long day is not an issue; whether it is eating in the restaurant or
ordering room service. And while some hotels do not have a restaurant in their arrangement,
there is always one (or more) chain restaurants right next door.
While hotel living takes me out of my element, and
therefore routine, I find that I can develop a routine in my new little world. I
always unpack the suitcase; hanging up clothes and putting others in the
dresser drawers. I set up my toiletries in the bathroom, and arrange them in a
way that is convenient for my new surroundings. In the morning, I sip my coffee
while I talk with my husband on the phone before getting ready for my day. Evenings
are spent catching up on emails, and relaxing while I watch TV or read a book.
However, hotel living reminds me of what I miss when I am
not home. I miss the schedule my husband and I have established over the years.
I miss my two furry children; especially the one who curls up on my lap every
evening. I miss my friends and colleagues.
You see, hotel living is not conducive to making
connections or being part of a community. I am an anonymous traveler who might
strike up a conversation with a stranger. But that is where it ends. There are
no familiar faces; no sharing of weekend tales on Monday morning with fellow
co-workers. No church family that greets me with a smile and a “welcome back”
on Sunday morning. No backyard barbeques with friends during the long summer
days.
I enjoy hotel living. Partly because it is a break from the
mundane. Mostly, because it reminds me of the many blessings of my home, my
family and friends, and my community.
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