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Happy birthday @syphon ! Hope you have an amazing day. :) #5yj #5yearjourney #friends #happybirthday

#happybirthday #5yearjourney #5yj #friends

The Group Experience - Kissimmee, FL (September 12th)

Let's talk about community, friends, and shared experiences. Yes, let's do that.

I was invited out by a local couple in Kissimmee to go to one of their friends homes and have dinner and spend time together. I loved it. It was a great time where a group of guys came together and just enjoyed each other's company for a few hours.

This is the second time (I think in my life, not just this 5YJ) where I have been able to get together with a group (more than 4 or 5 people) of gay men and just spend time together and share a meal and great conversation. I didn't have this in NYC and I didn't have it in LA and I definitely did not have this in Colorado where I came out. I'm not saying that it wasn't possible, but what I will say is that I didn't take the time to make it happen. It's sad, but that the truth. I wasn't willing to step out of my comfort zone and try to meet people, but I would bitch (usually to myself) about not knowing enough people or having that close of friends.

Anyway, this was cool for me to experience. I'm thankful for both Steve and Nabil (the local couple) for inviting me out to meet their friends for a meal. It's something special. I love to meet people in the places that I visit and these guys were all super nice and accepted me in like I was one of them and belonged. It felt good to be a part of it.

After dinner, we watched video from a Triad's (one of them was missing that night, hints the sad faces in the pic) vacation to Fiji before we went out on the boat to see the Disney fireworks.

It's very cool how groups of people can come together and just hang out. This is the sense of community and family that I love. I would really like to see it spread more and become a more common thing and when it does, I expect an invite. Haha. Seriously tho, it would be good to see. I seriously felt like I belonged. That's something special. What these guys have is something special.

After hanging out and spending time with the guys, Steven and Nabil drove me back to Paul's place. We agreed that we would hang out again before I left for Miami and then probably again once I came back to Kissimmee the next week. I was totally down for it. These guys are a pretty kick ass couple.

I walked into Paul's place and he was sitting there on his laptop at the table. He had been waiting up for me like a worried dad (he prefers brother) that had just allowed his daughter to go out to a party. Imagine a father who's daughter is just coming back from the first time of being allowed to go to a social function and his face of relief when he sees that she came back safely and you can imagine the look on Paul's face when I came through the door. Haha.

I sometimes and thrown aback by it and don't always know how to react to it, but I have met some really loving people on my journey. I admit that I am reserved in showing my emotions in this. Part of me is afraid to connect in the sense of family. I admit that, but some of the people that I meet make it extremely difficult not to. I'm thankful that people care, that they legitimately care. That means more than I know how to express with words. :)

I talked to Paul a bit, did the our nightly hug, and then told each other goodnight. I had been invited to Disney World again the next day with someone that I connected with locally and was going to be getting up at some ridiculous hour to go. I was excited about it! Haha.

#family #5 year journey #5yj #people #groups #lgbt #lgbtq #guys #men #dinner #kissimmee #orlando #florida #food #travel #travelers #blog #blogs #bloggers #writers

Some Love for the Haters (Limited Edition, Enjoy While it Lasts.) :)

I've visited 21 different places (that's not counting the places I visited and didn't spend a night in) and I've stayed in 45 different host homes (homes of people who invited me in to stay a night or more) Since beginning 5YJ on January 1st.

If you were to talk to most the people that have welcome me into their homes and lives, the people that have been a part of my journey (minus the ones that wanted sex and didn't get and then ended up being frustrated that I was attracted to them in the same way..and they have been more frequent than I would have liked, but oh well) and allowed me the honor of being a part of theirs; they would tell you that there's so much more to me and 5YJ than what they initially thought. They understand me and 5YJ because they were open to being a part of it, not just by following online, but they took it as step further and took the time to meet or host me. These people are 5YJ more than I ever could be. They make this journey what it is, and I'm thankful for it.

Some people wrongly assume that I'm just a bum traveling around not doing anything to help society. It's sad, but I would rather not waste my time justifying what I'm doing with haters anymore. That time can be used more wisely elsewhere. Even worse is that if the people didn't automatically assume who or what I was doing instead of just being open minded, meeting me, and seeing for themselves what kind of person I am and what this journey is really about maybe just maybe they might decide differently about making assumptions about people they haven't ever even met or spent any time speaking to. If they could see my heart and mind, they'd know there's so much more to me and 5YJ. I am about people. I am about seeing people grow. I am about seeing people come out of their shells and stop living in fear. We only have one life (as far as we all know). This is it. Living it in fear of other people, living it in a way that you've already given up is not a way to live it. Don't just live a little, live a lot. These are things that I've told myself and so when the people that can't figure it out, would rather throw hate at me instead of trying to getting ahold of the person that I am and what this journey is really about, I admit that I shut them off and in the same way they shut me off before I ever had a chance to show them the person I am. In my head, I put them in the drawer that's labeled "Closed minded, waste of time.". I may eventually meet them, but it will be reluctantly and only if I don't have anything better to do with my time (ex. seeing how low I can get twerkin' it). My time is more valuable to me than to have to justify who I am and what I do to people who spend their time judging others as if their life is the right way to do it and only because it's what everyone else is doing or it works for them. It's bullshit and I don't mind saying it. It's complete bullshit. Most of those people hate their lives so much that they think that everyone else should have to live in the hell they have created for themselves. YES, They created it for themselves. You are where you are because of the decisions you made in life. You can choose to find happiness in every situation, but instead some people would rather bitch and moan about everything instead of seeing the positive side of their own lives. If your life is that damn miserable, figure out a way to change it. Don't try to punish others for living the way that works best for them OR fulfilling their own purpose in the world. You don't know the difference they make in the world and in the lives others, don't pretend that you know all, you don't. You chance shutting down someone that that's making a true difference in the world and all because you didn't understand them or what they do. That's a horrible thing to chance doing.

I will no longer attempt to justify myself with haters. I can't and won't do it any longer. No one should ever have to do so, ever. You are the owner of your own life and that's that. If someone doesn't agree with it, it's a problem of their own, not yours. Let them deal with it. You don't owe answers about how you live your life to anyone. It's your life, live it the way you see fit (as long as it's not hurting others or the world that surrounds us...not living the way someone else thinks you should doesn't hurt them. Promise.) .

End rant.

Have a great day. :)

Jer (emy)

Ps. I'm sitting at a Starbucks, drinking some coffee that someone else paid for, messing around with some photos and writing this. I'm wearing clothes that I didn't buy (beside my Mickey Mouse underwear..I bought them before leaving for 5YJ) but that people gave me because they believe in me and 5YJ after meeting me. I'm currently making plans to hopefully meet more people that will probably cook free food for me or even let me stay with them and all the while telling me stories about their lives and all because I'll listen to what they have to say and they know and trust that I might learn something from it and then share what I learn (without revealing who they are) with others so that they might learn and grow, too. I know, how dare I not "work" and instead focus on meeting people, seeing places, having experiences, and sharing stories and lessons from it all. How dare I! I'll get what I deserve for living a life of "nothingness" and not "working", but until then, the email for my Starbucks gold card is the same as my Paypal - [email protected]. Feel free to help a traveling bum out. Thanks. :)

#haters #hate #5yj #5-year journey #5 year journey #jer johns #people #handling haters #limited edition #love #lovers #travel #traveles #travels #blog #blogs #writing #photography #photographers #writers #happiness

Some Love for the Haters (Limited Edition, Enjoy While it Lasts.) :)

Some people wrongly assume that I'm just a bum traveling around not doing anything to help society. It's sad, but I would rather not waste my time justifying what I'm doing with haters anymore. That time can be used more wisely elsewhere. Even worse is that if the people didn't automatically assume who or what I was doing instead of just being open minded, meeting me, and seeing for themselves what kind of person I am and what this journey is really about maybe just maybe they might decide differently about making assumptions about people they haven't ever even met or spent any time speaking to. If they could see my heart and mind, they'd know there's so much more to me and 5YJ. I am about people. I am about seeing people grow. I am about seeing people come out of their shells and stop living in fear. We only have one life (as far as we all know). This is it. Living it in fear of other people, living it in a way that you've already given up is not a way to live it. Don't just live a little, live a lot. These are things that I've told myself and so when the people that can't figure it out, would rather throw hate at me instead of trying to getting ahold of the person that I am and what this journey is really about, I admit that I shut them off and in the same way they shut me off before I ever had a chance to show them the person I am. In my head, I put them in the drawer that's labeled "Closed minded, waste of time.". I may eventually meet them, but it will be reluctantly and only if I don't have anything better to do with my time (ex. seeing how low I can get twerkin' it). My time is more valuable to me than to have to justify who I am and what I do to people who spend their time judging others as if their life is the right way to do it and only because it's what everyone else is doing or it works for them. It's bullshit and I don't mind saying it. It's complete bullshit. Most of those people hate their lives so much that they think that everyone else should have to live in the hell they have created for themselves. YES, They created it for themselves. You are where you are because of the decisions you made in life. You can choose to find happiness in every situation, but instead some people would rather bitch and moan about everything instead of seeing the positive side of their own lives. If your life is that damn miserable, figure out a way to change it don't try to punish others for living the way that works best for them. You don't know the difference they make in the world and in the lives others, don't pretend that you know all, you don't. You chance shutting down someone that that's making a true difference in the world and all because you didn't understand them or what they do. That's a horrible thing to chance doing.

End rant.

Have a great day. :)

Jer (emy)

Ps. I'm sitting at a Starbucks, drinking some coffee that someone else paid for, messing around with some photos and writing this. I'm wearing clothes that I didn't buy but that people gave me because they believe in me and 5YJ after meeting me. I'm currently making plans to hopefully meet more people that will probably cook free food for me or even let me stay with them and all the while telling me stories about their lives and all because I'll listen to what they have to say and they know and trust that I might learn something from it and then share what I learn (without revealing who they are) with others so that they might learn and grow, too. I know, how dare I not "work" and instead focus on meeting people, seeing places, having experiences, and sharing stories and lessons from it all. How dare I! I'll get what I deserve for living a life of "nothingness" and not "working", but until then, the email for my Starbucks gold card is the same as my Paypal - [email protected]. Feel free to help a traveling bum out. Thanks. :)

Me as a Flake - Kissimmee, FL (September 11)

I've mentioned it many times before and I will mention it again here, I absolutely can not stand it when someone flakes on me. It drives me fucking nuts when someone makes plans and then cancels last minute. You'd think that with my experience of adapting to change and having to go with the flow throughout the time of being on 5YJ, that I could easily adjust to being flaked on and having to make last minute changes. I haven't adjusted. In fact, I probably hate it more now. Haha. The thing is that I'm traveling and meeting people and meeting people is a huge part of what I do. I get to meet people and learn and then share stories, photos, and lessons that I learn from that experience. So, with people being the most important part of what I do, I need to be meeting people of course and I strive to meet people beyond just the hosts. I think that's important. I think it's important to get out and meet people that live in the local area by chance (or by Grindr, Scruff, Okcupid, Craigslist, or whatever other app or site that it takes to meet people in 2014).

So, you'd think that a guy that hates being flaked on so much would know to be sure that he takes all the necessary precautions to make sure that he doesn't flake on other people (even if unintentional), but nope. He apparently doesn't. On the 11th, I had made plans to meet a guy that I met on Okcupid. He wanted to meet me and hear stories about 5YJ and share some stories from his experiences of coming from Colombia. We were going to meet at a Starbucks in Orlando. I was going to take the bus to get to him from Kissimmee. Everything was set up and we agreed on it and set a time. I was excited (I'm always excited to meet new people and hear their stories...I wouldn't be doing this if I wasn't).

I woke up in the morning and talked to Paul for a bit (he loves morning conversations and he can go on forever talking...lol). He told me that he would like me to dry and fold his laundry, which I didn't mind because I still had my own laundry to do. I figured I had all the time in the world before meeting the guy in Orlando. So, Paul left to go to Disney World and I started laundry.

Finished up both loads of laundry. It was a couple of hours before I was supposed to meet him at the Starbucks, so I looked at Google maps to figure out what bus and at what time. Sure enough the bus route was going to take 2 hours to get to this part of Orlando and I needed to leave within a coupe of minutes to make it on time. So I rushed around and gathered up my stuff and headed out. I made it to the bus stop a few minutes late, but could see the bus was coming so I didn't miss it. Phew!

I jumped on and was set to go. There were 2 connections that I needed to make. I was hoping that I wouldn't miss the first one because I (and the bus) was running behind. I got off where I was supposed to and only in time to see the other bus pulling away. The buses only run once an hour. I was screwed. There was no way for me to make it to the guy in time and I wasn't anywhere near wifi (I don't keep phone service on my phone) to let him know about what had happened or to see if he wanted me to come later. So, I walked back the direction the bus came and hoped to come across wifi somewhere along the way. Thankfully, I was able to find some from a local Denny's restaurant. I wrote him and let him know. He told me to not worry about it and that we could reschedule for another time.

I was so pissed at myself. It's frustrating. I know how it feels to not have someone show up when they are supposed to and to not be alerted about it until last minute. I hate it and here I was doing it to someone else (unintentionally) and all because I failed to look up the bus route and how long it would take to get there. I had no idea that it could take 2 hours to get to Orlando from Kissimmee on a bus and I should have planned much better. Such an asshole thing to do.

Lesson learned. Thankfully he was nice about it.

#flakes #flaking #5yj #5-year journey #travel #okcupid #meeting #dating #dates #people #jer johns #orlando #kissimmee #florida

31: I Made It - Kissimmee, FL (September 10th)

It's been 31 years and my life only gets better, fuller with every passing day. I have been given one of the gift of understanding of what it means to appreciate life. Appreciation, for me, comes from the sacrifices made of common comforts-the things that many people feel they need to survive and I survived without. In surviving without, I learned the value of appreciating the things that I have now, letting go of the things of former moments and not planning on the things that haven't come yet. This is one of the most valuable gifts that a person can have.

I woke up on the morning of my birthday and laid there and thought about the love of my life for a moment. I just thought about how good it feels inside me and all the special moments that we shared together. It was a crazy year, but we made it. Damn, I love coffee!

Enough thinking about it, it was time to get up and make some. Mmmmm! I love the heat of it on my lips. The way it tastes when it enters my mouth and going down my throat and the warm feeling I get in my stomach. Yeah, it was time for some coffee for sure. The perfect way to begin year 32.

With that, I got up and headed out to the kitchen to make some coffee. Paul was already up, of course. I told him good morning and proceeded to make coffee. Paul drinks coffee, but doesn't make it. Haha. He says his turns out too light. I probably make mine with too much coffee grinds, but oh well. It's better darker, of course.

I started the coffee and then headed back to my room to get my clothes and stuff ready for a shower and to respond to any emails or texts that I had received in the early morning or late night. Then I came back out. When I made it back out, Paul pointed over to a stocking hanging on the closet door across from the dining room table. It was a Mickey Christmas stocking and it was stuffed full of stuff. Paul explained to me that he and Norris celebrated something called a Birthday Season (something similar to how Disney celebrates seasons. Paul is a big Disney fan, too). Every year on their bdays the other one stuffs a Christmas stocking full of goodies and they both wanted to share that tradition with me. It was so sweet.

When I think back a year ago, my bday was spent in my room in Brooklyn. I went to school and then came home and hung out in my room and thought about series for photos and what I would do next. I always use my birthdays as a reflection time and as a time to think about and plan for the future. I consider how to make myself a better person and what I can do to leave a lasting impact on the world around me or at least make some ripples that others might be able to carry on and make a difference from. It's a big thought, but I like to think and hope big. I've seen many things that I didn't think were possible in my lifetime and they didn't come to be from having small thoughts or saying "This will never work." to everything that I dreamed of. Anything is possible with the right amount of dedication and effort. I sincerely believe that. And, it helps when you can figure out ways to include others and maybe bring thoughts and dreams together. It takes sacrifice, but the outcome of some sacrifices is better than that which was sacrificed to begin with. I've also seen that.

In the stocking that Paul had prepared, he had bought and filled out a cute card, bought me a ton of snacks for the journey, and got a gift card to Starbucks and to Walmart. It was all so thoughtful. I gave him a hug and told him thank you. He cried quite a bit and then told me about how the tradition between him and his husband, Norris came to be and that he told Norris that he was going to share that with me and Norris supported the idea.

I've gotten used to having my birthdays be very low key. All I really planned to do was to go to a Starbucks and get some writing done and work on some photos edits. Paul asked if there was anywhere I wanted to go that he could drop me off. He had made plans with two of his lady friends that just happened to be vacationing at Disney at the same time as him. I asked if he would take me to Downtown Disney so I could go to the Starbucks so I could get some work done there and he agreed.

I think it may have bothered him that I was going to be spending my bday working and focusing on writing and photography stuff, but the way I see it - 1) I love what I do. 2)I may be wrong, but I believe that most adults work on their birthdays unless it's on a weekend or a normal day off. I'm no different in that.

He mentioned having me come to meet the ladies, but I was a bit reluctant. I knew they had made plans and I didn't want to intrude and I also knew that I had a lot of writing and photo edits to get caught up on. So, I declined.

Paul dropped me off in Downtown Disney and I went to Starbucks and got my free bday drink. Yay for being a gold card holder. haha. I got focused and started writing and almost immediately started getting messages from Paul. Lol. He told me they went to Celebration and then told me EVERYTHING they were doing and then told me when they arrived at Starbucks and everything they were talking about and that he had mentioned me and my journey and both Emmy and Nikki loved my story and wanted to meet me. Then he told me they were on their way over to Downtown Disney and wanted to meet. Haha. I told him that I would be happy to meet them but was in the middle of some work. He said they all understood but that they still wanted to meet so he would be over in a bit.

In 30 minutes or so they showed up and I gave them both hugs. I rarely ever (unless the person I am meeting is sitting down in a car or whatever) go without giving the person I'm meeting a hug at first meeting. It's part of my nature. I want people to feel welcome around me and I figure the best way to do that is to treat them like I would treat family or close friends and I would think that I would give those people hugs, so hugs it is. Ha. And the ladies got hugs. I think maybe it surprised them. Haha.

We sat around and talked for a bit and then Paul had wanted to take me to have catfish at the Catfish Place in the area. And so he wanted to leave shortly to head to that. So after only getting in a couple of hours of work, I finished up for the day and prepared to go to the Catfish Place with him.

On our way out, the ladies asked if I would want to go have dinner with them on Friday at Disney Resort Hotel restaurant. I wanted to really bad, but I had already made plans with a local couple to hang out and didn't want to cancel on them or reschedule. So told the ladies that I couldn't. I instead asked if they wanted to come with us to have catfish. They didn't like catfish though, so instead they invited Paul and me to come with them to dinner at a Disney restaurant that night. They were going to be going to the Wilderness Lodge and having dinner at the Artist Point there.

I was so freakin' excited. Haha. I couldn't wait to have dinner at a Disney restaurant AND on my birthday. This was going to be sweet. We headed directly over. It was a pretty nice restaurant. The food was delicious and the conversation was great. Emmy was preparing for a big change in her life. She would be moving to Seal Beach in California from Seattle and she had never lived away from Seattle and her family. So it was going to be a big change. She told me her story about how that came to be and how she had to move for a job. I'm so proud of her for taking that leap and making that change. Not everyone would be able to do it, but she was taking a chance and doing it to see how it would work out.

They had told the waitress that it was my birthday and something they do at Artist Point is bring out a cupcake along with whatever desert you ordered and a light up Buzz Lightyear figurine with a clip that attaches to the plate. It's really cute and yum! Not the Buzz Lightyear, but the cupcake.

We finished up dinner and then went and walked out to the Lake behind the Wilderness Lodge. I didn't realize it but there is a parade of lights on the water at Disney World, so we got to watch that and decided to take the boat over to Magic Kingdom just so we could watch the fireworks from the lake. It was beautiful and such great way to finish off my bday - a day that I don't usually do much out of the ordinary, but something tells me that might change on this journey. ha. I'm okay with it as long as I'm around great people like I was this year. :)

So happy that I got to meet Emmy and Nikki and that they were willing to be a part of my birthday with me. It's still crazy to me how quickly I am able to connect with complete strangers. I don't know exactly how or why it happens, but it happens and I'm glad it does.

Here's to another great year of life. :)

5-Year Journey Continues: Travel to Next 6 Cities Covered for $38

Travel for the next 6 stops beyond Miami has been covered by an anonymous supporter of 5YJ.

The next 6 cities beyond Miami (Return to Kissimmee, Tallahassee, New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, & Austin) have all been covered. A supporter or 5YJ has generously purchased 6 different mega bus tickets so that I can continue the journey into mid November.

There will be some schedule changes that I will update when near stronger wifi, but travel to the cities is for sure and all for $38 using Mega Bus. I'm so excited.

I am still looking for hosts in some of the cities and very interested in meeting people even if you can't host me while I'm in your city. If you have the time and are willing to meet, I'd love to share a meal or experience together. If interested, you can reach me via email - [email protected].

See you soon! :)

Jer

31: I Made It - Kissimmee, FL (September 10th)

Here's to another great year of life. :)

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