The travel bug hit me just a few years ago, when some friends invited me to join them in Berlin. Getting a taste of the nightlife there inspired me to travel more, most of which I did solo in 2008 and 2009, for the sake of logistic simplicity.

This year I tried to coordinate my travel with friends, some here in New York, others from farther away. It's great to have companions for sightseeing and meals, but I have missed the freedoms I enjoyed traveling alone.

Prior my recent transformation to a FF, it took 12 years of light flying to accrue (almost) enough miles for an award ticket. Now I'm about to to take my first mileage run to help myself retain status for next year. I've come a long way since 2008, but I confess to feeling a little uneasy that I'm now flying for the sake of flying.