When I was starting out, I was always excited about constantly moving. That’s why I worked so hard to become a full-time travel blogger in the first place — I ached for that freedom. It remains true most of the time. But these days, I also get excited by the prospect of just staying put.…

Today I got into a heated exchange with a stranger at the mall. I was standing in front of the counter, when a man pushed me and mumbled “paharang-harang.” (“You’re blocking the way.”) The younger me would have shrugged it off and let it go to avoid confrontation. Instead, I called him out and said…