Part of my research for this project involves traveling; I’m either scouting possible locations or I’m checking out what other people are doing, trying to learn from them and get new ideas. When I travel I keep a sort of journal of my impressions, and then write up my report based on those notes. My reports don’t have a lot of hard data — they’re based mainly on my own observations. In other words, it’s not science, it’s one person’s opinion. Sometimes I’ll get it wrong; in truth, you need to live a lifetime in a place to really understand it, so a week or two doesn’t make anyone an expert. As much as I hate to say it, I’m just a tourist.

But unlike some other tourists with websites, I won’t tell you where to go or what to see. I won’t review hotels or restaurants or make recommendations for tours you can take or hikes you should go on or anything like that — there are a million places you can find that information if you want it. When I travel, I explore; I hate to use that word, because it has a pretentious connotation, but I’m not sure what else to call it. It’s not like I’m going to undiscovered territory, but it’s new to me, so I’m finding my way around, seeing as much as I can, and trying to get familiar with a place and the people who live there.

If you’re considering a similar trip, or thinking about relocating, one of my reports might be of some help to you, but you should do much, much more research. Admittedly, I don’t always do mine ahead of time — sometimes I go into a place blind and try to sort everything out after I get home. It can be more fun that way. Just don’t take anything I say or do as advice or an instruction; it’s on you to do your own research, verify the facts, and make your own decisions. Cool? Cool.