Time is running out

"Welcome Mr Bingham."

 The man smiles slightly as he realizes he's back on the road again. The strange mix of professionalism and comfort to make you feel like you're with family when you don't know a single person in the room. He sets his things down in the airport club knowing that they will be safe while he grabs a cup a coffee.

The man sits down in the worn out and faded lounge chair with his cup of coffee and looks beyond the window in front of him. He sees a plane slowly getting ready to take off while another is landing. "It's all so simple," the man thought. Up, down, repeat. Unload, reload. Limited communication in the blue abyss of the endless sky....so simple.

What a run the man has had over the years of travel. Flying in luxury, achieving the highest status, going where the wind took him. The man sighed. Company policies were changing and the man's comfort was slowly being taken from him and the year was coming to a quick close.

Like all travelers, the man was thinking about the next year and what status awaited him. In previous years he never needed to worry because traveling 80% of your time far exceeded highest status on any airline. Now the man, like other travelers, crunched the numbers for flights in his head trying to figure out if his comfort status was within reach.

It almost felt surreal to the man. No matter how he worked the numbers, he wasn't going to make it. It was as if the home the man worked so hard to build over the years was being taken away from him. The man understood that it was only a matter of time, but change is never easy. The next year awaited the man, change was eminent.

Another a new adventure

The lights turn on. The man opens his eyes abruptly.

Good evening everyone, we have now started our decent into San Francisco International airport. Flight attendants, please prepare the cabin.

The sudden shock of being awoken starts the mans mind again.

What a nice sleep. I wonder if it's too late to get a drink. Nope. Thank you first class! oh man, why am I going to this destination again? His thoughts begin to fill his mind again...

The man looks out at the beautiful glow of the bay skyline in the dark.... an amazing achievement of mankind. The man had finally found home among the clouds, but the man's life was yet again changing. Work was changing how they do business and the man's home was slowly changing to a darkened apartment away from the clouds.

When your home is in a immovable structure, continuing relationships around the world becomes increasingly tougher and the man knew this. This trip to San Francisco was not for business this time, it was to find an immovable home. A home that grounded him.

Flight attendants please take your seats

The man takes a deep breath. knowing change is emanate, he sets his mind on making a home on the ground.

8 Weeks later

"I need to get up into the air. It's been nearly 8 weeks!"

The man argues with his manager. Alas, his manager caves and gets him into the clouds again.

Like an old friend, the TSA agent greets the man at security. Like a pro, the man continues through security in a matter of minutes. The club lounge feels like a warm hug to the man. Everything he needs for the comfort of the road, healthy snacks, cushy seats, chargers, drinks, wifi, ticketing help, business rooms, and most importantly, peace and quiet.

While the man sits in peace waiting for his flight, there's a moment of hesitation. Normally the man finds fun things to do-- code, watch the news, text friends, watch movies, and most importantly figure out what fun things he'll due at his next destination. His mind was in disarray though, the infrastructure of blocks and barriers to normal life had been whittled away from the normality of an everyday immovable home. The man was lost, confused, and at a loss.

I need to get groceries when I get back. I still need to furnish my immovable home and get my address changed. License. Registration. Register to vote. I need to find a new place to bike. I wonder if there is a local group I can join?

What is this? The man has not felt these feelings in years. Heck, the man drove from his immovable home to work and back the other day. The last time the man did that was nearly 5 years ago. The mans struggle was getting worse.

The moment I stop flying I'm stuck. Who the heck has the money to fly and see family and friends whenever they want? My miles are nearly depleted, I'm flying less for work, settling into this new immovable home. I'm stuck. I cannot move. This is what it feels like to be in the same area. how do I get out. What if I need to leave? What if I don't know anyone here? Can I even afford to move again? What have I done? If I'm not traveling, my life stops. Breath.

The mans anxiety raises. What is happening to the mans life? He had worked so hard in the last few years to fight the loneliness, the superficial conversations, and the loss of "home". The man now lies in a paradox that he just fought so hard to get out of. The man smiles,

There's never a dull moment in this thing we call life.

The man closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, looks out into the world and begins to embrace the reality that life that given him.

I came. I saw. I travel.

Unwrapping the MileagePlus Club Card

Since I spend a lot of my time in airports, I decided to get a credit card which allows me access to the United MileagePlus Club in the airports. Now for those of you that have never experienced the awesomeness that is a club in an airport, let me tell you: The club is a space secluded from normal airport traffic. Most people that go there are frequent flyers and understand the the life of the road. There is a customer service desk so you don't have to wait in long lines to talk to the airlines. There are free snacks, fruit, cheese and meats... lounge couches, power outlets galore, and large flat screen TVs with sports and news on. There is also an open bar with always friendly bartenders. 

Now, along with the club access, it gives you silver status on United, Platinum membership to Hyatt Hotels, and access to a ton of great deals on luxury hotels all around the world. Check out the benefits. But this blog isn't about the card benefits, it's about when I got my card.

I went out to my mailbox looking for an envelope, and instead I find a package... a 5 pound package...

When I opened it, I realized what was in the box

And then I open this beautiful box, and see a letter. "Congratulations on qualifying for the MileagePlus Club Card"

Oh yeah, here's you card btw embedded to the 1/8" cardboard cover of this box.... you might want this.

Underneath the letter are two books. One to explain all the benefits of the card and the other to outline the luxury hotels that you could get deals at.... as if the internet hadn't been invented.

And in case you didn't see all the benefits on the single page on the internet for this luxurious card, here's a 3/4" book explaining your benefits with lots of stupid flowery information.

Don't have the internet? Wait, what's the internet? No Problem! Here's a 1 1/4" thick book of all the luxurious hotels you can stay at with basically all the same deals: free breakfast and a round of golf. Thank God I always wanted to haul this book around.

Don't believe the thickness?

Oh wow. look at these images and descriptions.... SOOO worth it.

At the bottom of the box, finally the information everyone knows is going to bit them in the butt, but the CC companies don't want to share.

The legally binding contract crap.. and insurance, and interest, blah blah blah... But look at the cool books I go too!

This is the remnants of a ridiculous credit card package. Deal United and Chase, All I wanted was a piece of plastic that got me into the United Clubs, not a package of crap that I can find on the internet.

Thanks for killing trees and verifying you put my annual fee to good use,

I came I saw I travel.