I had a laugh-out-loud moment while reading this morning’s newspaper. I came across a short and entertaining feature along the lines of comedian Jeff Foxworthy’s “You might be a redneck if …” shtick. The article listed 60-plus ways to tell if you’re a Boston local. I am, and one particular item on the list rang so true I could see myself in the moment. That got me thinking about the commonality of experiences we share only with the people who know our hometown as well as we do. It’s a bond we share even with people we don’t know. How many times have you met a stranger while traveling, only to discover you’re both from the same place, which inevitably leads to “Do you know …” or “Remember that place …”.

As we travel the world, that commonality of experience expands, and we find ourselves sharing memories of an ever-increasing roster of people and places. In this issue, Richard Newton writes about Moscow. Tenaya Darlington takes a 9–5 tour of Doha, and Catherine Groux explores the nightlife in Seoul. Kim Krol seeks adventure in Acapulco, Ted Alan Stedman kicks back in Belize, and Debra Bokur seeks family fun with her husband in Barcelona. Plus, Diana Rowe guides us through the ins and outs of today’s trusted traveler programs.

Perhaps one of these articles will prompt a visit or trigger a memory. If it does, drop me a line. I’d love to hear about it.