{"id":7519,"date":"2020-07-30T23:21:03","date_gmt":"2020-07-31T03:21:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/?p=7519"},"modified":"2020-07-30T23:23:11","modified_gmt":"2020-07-31T03:23:11","slug":"the-dining-traveler-pandemic-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/2020\/07\/the-dining-traveler-pandemic-edition.html","title":{"rendered":"The Dining Traveler: Pandemic Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For the past few years, I’ve done a similar routine the last week of December: I do a deep cleaning of my home, give away the things I no longer need, and set my intentions for the new year. I had a hard goal for December 31st, 2019: to sell out of the first run of my book, The Dining Traveler Guide to Puerto Rico<\/a>. That goal did not happen, not even close, but I consoled myself with the strong sales we did have at the end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several days into 2020, Puerto Rico was struck by a series of earthquakes<\/a>. It did not feel right to try to sell a travel book, and I postponed my marketing and sales efforts. February arrived, and my website was a victim of a bot attack that I am still troubleshooting. March was looking promising after we spent the last February shooting our first long-form video in Philadelphia. March quickly shut down as the country scrambled to take preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of a sudden, I saw opportunities I had signed up for being canceled or put on hold. Even my reserve unit advised us that they will not be allowing reservists to do our annual training during this time. For the first time in over twenty years, I was entirely out of work with no prospect of income, with a toddler, living in one of the most expensive cities in the United States. While many of my friends were binge-watching TV shows, I could barely sleep thinking of the future. I’ve always been an optimist, but seeing people I admire losing work left and right and not being able to help made me feel powerless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve tried to write this post for months. I typed the first paragraphs in late March or early April. At this point in late July, dates are just a blur. My website was hacked back in February. It took weeks to get everything looking somewhat how it used to. The thought of losing years of work is scary. It also made me question if it is worth doing this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n