The Off-Season - A Local Take on a Big City
Every person and every job has an off-season. A time of year where things are slow.So it’s just my luck that my off-seasons are on different hemispheres.When my travel agent work picks up, my personal travel and blog work slows down. I can’t take as much time off as I’d like to, which means I can’t explore as many new spots, which means I can’t write about exploring new spots. Flip that all around when my travel agent work slows down and I finally have a chance to go explore the great unknown.Or London.Again.I’d say odds are 50/50.So I want to try something new.I want to tell you what I do during my blog’s off-season.I’m so blessed to live in one of the best cities in the world: Boston.Yes, Boston. Home of the accent and the most obnoxious sports fans in the world. Say that to my face, I dare you.#FreeBradyI curse out the MBTA, Dunkin Donuts is part of my DNA, and I will drink an iced anything no matter what time of year it is.This week, I want to introduce you to my city. Not as a tourist, but as someone who lives and breathes it every day.
A typical week in my life can be...pretty boring actually. Mornings bring coffee, first-appointment-of-the-day-please doctor’s visits, and scrambling to get to work on time (cue the cursing of the MBTA). Evenings bring more cursing public transit, quick dinners, and changing into my sweatpants as soon as I walk in the door. Then there’s the weekends.Weekends = adventure.I would say two weekends of every month find me traveling - whether it’s to Albany, Rhode Island, or somewhere new in the country. The other two? I’m right here in Boston.Here’s what I really do when I’m not traveling.
I Sleep In
Whenever I travel for work, I’m typically up with the sun.It’s the best time of day to take photos—people are asleep, first light is perfect, and it’s a great chance to explore the city before it picks up for the day.But I’m not a natural early riser. I’m a night owl through and through.When I’m back in Boston or with my family during my off-season, I sometimes won’t get out of bed until 1 in the afternoon.It’s important to recharge.
I Go To Breweries
The one place I love to take visitors, or even just go to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon, is the Sam Adams Brewery right here in Boston. Between the low admission (they ask for a donation for some amazing local charities, and I strongly recommend that you consider it), the free tastings, and the tap room, this has become one of my favorite places in Boston. It’s a combination of two of my favorite things: local history and beer.But that’s not all.There’s the Downeast Cider House, Aeronaut, Harpoon, and Lamplighter. And those are just the ones I know off the top of my head. Regardless of what you like, you’ll find something for you.And that’s not to mention the distilleries.Who said you have to be outside to have fun?
Taken pre-free beer. Little did I know our tour guide would have us laughing so hard it almost came out my nose.
I Dine Out
My credit card actually hates me for this one, guys. Boston has so. much. good. food. From sushi to pizza to burritos, I have a favorite spot for everything here. That doesn’t stop me from finding new haunts, though.I think sharing a meal with someone is one of the best ways to get to know them while also sharing a common ground, so I frequently find myself going out with friends or guests. In the last few years, I’ve really started expanding my palate to foods I didn’t eat a lot growing up, so I defer to other people for ideas and suggestions.It’s one of the best ways to find great spots.Case in point: my favorite sushi spot in Boston is an all-you-can-eat restaurant my friend, Arielle, took me to about a year ago. Now, I bring everyone there.If you ever end up in Boston and need food recommendations, I’ve got you.
I Explore
There are so many benefits to living in a big city. The excitement, the hustle and bustle, the food.And, my personal favorite, the never ending corners to explore during my off-season.For the first four years of my living in Boston, I lived like a tourist visits: stuck to the Fenway Parks and the Copley Squares of the city. I didn't bother trying to go anywhere else.Now, I venture to the North End and Seaport, Beacon Hill and Cambridge.It’s all the excitement of traveling, with all the comfort of returning to my own bed at the end of the night and cooking my own meals. I truly couldn’t ask for anything more. 
My triumph at finally breaking out of my geographical comfort zone is immeasurable in this photo. It was the first time I'd ever been to Beacon Hill.
I Try New Things
In past winters, you could mostly find me in my room sleeping off the seasonal depression. But this year, I’ve tried skiing and ice skating (which I technically had done before but was terrible at and now I’m not terrible at it yay). I’ve pushed myself out of my culinary comfort zone by challenging myself to cook vegetarian and vegan meals on a regular basis. In the last few weeks, I also started meditating and finding little ways to put my mental health first. The best thing about winter, even though it’s my blog’s off-season, is that it gives me plenty of time to focus on myself. After all, self care never goes out of season. There you have it, folks. A little look at my day to day life during my off-season. Now, with that, it's time to go grab a pint of ice cream and watch the Oscars. The next time you hear from me will be after my trip to New Orleans, so be on the lookout for my First Thoughts post in two weeks ;)