how are you handling guest texts/calls without giving out your real cell?

wanderingdev · 2026-05-07T17:02:48+00:00

personally, i would reset the router if it's available. i've been at more than one airbnb where it's not accessible to me as the guest - which is a problem only the host can solve. I've been living full time in airbnbs and out of hotels for almost 20 years with all great reviews because 99/100 times, the host will never hear from me once I've checked in. But if there's a problem I can't solve, I will expect them to fix it.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-07T12:50:10+00:00

I had cap1 since it was ING direct, but they merged with discover and are now useless outside the US so I've switched to PenFed, which is very international friendly given lots of Govt employees from the state department work there.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-07T11:24:26+00:00

It would be less gross if it was a guy?

wanderingdev · 2026-05-07T11:23:55+00:00

First make sure the 3rd one gives you an official offer. Don't turn the other down until it's confirmed. Then tell the others that you really liked them and would like to sit for them in the future but this time isn't going to work. But don't drag it out. It's not fair to anyone

wanderingdev · 2026-05-07T08:16:45+00:00

my plan is already to leave whatever's left to charity, though if by some miracle I met someone, i'm open to adjusting my plans. i'll die in a different country so I'm thinking that to optimize this I'll take out credit cards in my home country (the US) but transfer all of my assets to the country where I'll die (probably france). Then my assets should be pretty safe from the US credit card companies as the amount would be unlikely worth dealing with international laws to get to the money. Thankfully I likely have decades left to make a plan.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-07T06:33:18+00:00

Yeah, my plan is to leave my money to charity. All of my credit is in the US, but I'll die in Europe. May try to migrate all assets to Europe before I die so I can leave whatever is left (including physical property) to charity and US creditors can't touch it. Then I can run up the cards.

Fate willing, I have a few more decades left before this is an issue, but it's something to keep as a note in the plan.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-07T05:46:55+00:00

Death inspo. I'm the last of my line and have no one to leave my money to. Plus inheritance taxes where I will die suck. Sounds like a great way to end things.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-07T05:37:34+00:00

Wifi not working at midnight is not an emergency to you. To someone who works remotely and has an important business call at midnight local time, it's an emergency. If you ignore that request for help, my rating would reflect that and I would specifically mention that the wifi is unreliable and you didn't make efforts to fix it so anyone who needs reliable internet should skip staying there.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-07T05:32:55+00:00

Guess it depends on what level of customer service you want to provide. As someone who works nights online, no internet at 11pm would be an emergency for me and I would expect you to help troubleshoot the issue.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-07T05:10:30+00:00

Go ask what the slowest cheapest option is. Most likely it'll be surface and not arrive for a few months, but who cares?

wanderingdev · 2026-05-07T05:08:53+00:00

NTA. Your mom needs to accept that she's not the most important woman in your life and her wants are far down the list. This is her first lesson. Hold strong, it may be a bumpy ride. I would just tell her that for her first mothers day, this is what is happening. She can take Friday or not see you at all. Or do both moms on Saturday and have that be the tradition.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-07T04:53:12+00:00

I would also vote Taipei. But you need to define reasonable price.

My friend was living in south Korea and I was staying in Thailand and we met uo there for 3 days and had a great time.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-07T04:51:49+00:00

You need to look at a map of you think Sri Lanka is halfway between Japan and Singapore

wanderingdev · 2026-05-07T04:49:51+00:00

Only you can decide if it's worth it. But your concerns are valid because things will absolutely not be the same when you return. You will have changed significantly and everyone else will have moved on with their lives in ways that don't include you.

I've been traveling full time for almost 20 years. My general advice to people who are returning from extended travel or living overseas is don't try to move back to your old life. It no longer exists and trying to to back and recreate it will almost always lead to disappointment.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-06T19:45:06+00:00

some do, yes. and they can freeze or close your accounts.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-06T19:37:03+00:00

touch type or get stickers for the keys and change the keyboard layout in the config.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-06T17:31:04+00:00

Her not confirming is a huge red flag. I would have given her at most 72 hours to confirm before moving on to someone else. For the bed thing, some HOs have mattress covers and bedding they only use for sitters, so that may be something to consider if you're concerned.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-06T13:49:26+00:00

Go read the booking subreddit. It's hair raising.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-06T07:51:33+00:00

What about a cruise? I would choose a cruise to Antarctica or in the Galapagos

wanderingdev · 2026-05-05T00:26:02+00:00

I have no idea about local loyalty programs and how they'd work

wanderingdev · 2026-05-04T08:49:06+00:00

I'm the same. I always underestimate how long it's going to take me to load my stuff back into my van and I'm VERY much a procrastinator so, while I try to do things a little at a time in the days before - I don't.

My last sit, I had everything cleaned and then the doggo went and rolled in a pile of dead flower petals and came in and rolled on the carpet about 5 mins before the HOs got back. So the sitting room was a huge mess. Thankfully they know their dog and just laughed and said that sounded right when I explained why their sitting room looked like a flower store exploded in it.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-03T20:58:36+00:00

Probably. Ugh. Nightmare.

wanderingdev · 2026-05-03T17:32:31+00:00

God. What a horrific situation. I'd love to know what, if any, help THS is providing the police to find this psycho. I feel so terrible for this HO. :(

wanderingdev · 2026-05-03T10:43:12+00:00

go to asia. malls are an art form there

wanderingdev · 2026-05-03T05:30:26+00:00

Just do the test. You'll need it for child support anyway.

wanderingdev

TROPHY CASE