Growth Santana

Driving drive down from Boston to Hyannis, then pulling into the parking lot was exciting. I took a picture at the intersection as memories of eight years ago – when I first visited as a single/divorced woman – flooded back.

(Okay – so, back then, I immediately hit it off with a just-my-type, nerdy, handsome man, and we decided to spend the next day together, exploring the Cape as newbies. It was lovely, magical (as the Cape is), PG.13 and carried on for a bit after we checked out. Yay!)

I pulled into the driveway and parked. Time passed; I took it all in as the first to arrive.

When I walked in the main building, I yelped and paused and cursed and heard myself say “OMG!” more times than I would have if I hadn’t been alone. I texted Dawn M.

When everyone else arrived, I learned that there are four buildings. Four. FOUR?!! One little studio house is mine. One little house is for the assistant managers. One house has four private rooms and two shared bathrooms. The main house has 9 rooms and 6.5 bathrooms. The rooms are numbered but the bathrooms are not. They are everywhere.

So many rooms. So many things to think about – to be responsible for. We said goodbye to our trainer and regrouped in the living room and planned. The Martha’s Vineyard team are headed out this morning. I need to talk to the German guy who’s leaving because he worked at the Hyannis hostel last year.

I set up my place; it took quite a bit of work and creativity to move things in a way that makes sense – that feels homey. It’s on its way, and I’m content to mind other things for now.

Most of us walked down to Main Street to take it all in. Just a few blocks away are the cutest shops and a wide variety of restaurants. I could hear the bustle of the past – and I know it’s going to be flooded with people – tourists – and it’ll be vibrant and electric.

I introduced myself (and staff chimed in) when we interacted with shop keepers. I loved, loved this grounded, embodied community-enagement.

Announcing myself as the new “hostel manager” felt effortless in a way that being a “professor” still isn’t (and that’s mostly because people like to low-key correct me to “teacher”). I think being in this body (vessel) in my energy (mostly enthusiasm) is more resonant with “hostel manager” than “tenured English professor,” generally speaking. Just an observation. (This is a lame thought train to have done down given the focus of this post…)

Today, I’m going to go grocery shopping, finalize my grant-funded survey project, work on my business communications course book (the semester starts in 9 days, buy a rug (my studio needs a new one), avoid doing any hostel-related work.

One full day off is necessary.