Hosting somebody at my place has never been my forte. I like to think of it more as a lack of opportunity than that of skill. However the month of July was quite different. I actually hosted two friends over a span of two weekends where one was a long weekend. There has been quite a few things to be learnt from these experiences. Atleast that is what I'd like to say!
Whenever you move to a new city or even a new apartment, there is that first week where you get used to things. One week is typically enough to figure out which switch turns on the fan and which turns on the light, or which drawer in the kitchen has the ladle and which one has the spoons. And one week is more than enough to get over the novelty of the place. You know what I mean, clicking pics sending them to your folks and other social outpourings.
So after a week, you are pretty much used to your surroundings. Consider my case at Richardson. I took the 1 Bed with the intention of getting it setup for my fiancé's arrival ofcourse post marriage somewhere near the end of the year. The mojo lasted for a week. All I could get going in that week was a TV, a queen size mattress with a box spring and a flimsy Walmart dining table with 4 chairs. Once I got past 1st week, things just remained a part of the 'plan'. Each weekend I wake up with that plan at the back of my head only to do nothing about it till the next weekend creeps in. Its been 3 months now and I am well and truly comfortable at my apartment the way it is.
Sadly guests/friends who visit me are not afforded that luxury. They typically stay over the weekend, at times a long weekend (add one more day to their agony I say). Plus because they are friends and don't want to break my heart they have to be courteous and appear accommodating even if my living room is devoid of a couch and watching TV involves sitting down on the carpet and craning your neck to get the whole picture detail. Add to that the fact that the last 2 guests I have had went that extra mile and actually cleaned off my bath-tub. Normally a host would be embarrassed by that, but I took it in my stride and gleefully thanked the concerned party, understanding that each must have had their selfish reasons to do what they did!
I am still trying to zero in on the lessons that should be learnt out of these experiences, but until then all I have been saying is "You are most Welcome!"