One of my friends says that for the last 10 months I have been on an Eat, Pray, Love journey. So far it has just been eat because I don’t pray and I certainly haven’t found any love, at least not the kind of love that a single woman with two cats hopes to find. However, I have been on 15 trips, both domestic and international with a handbag full of free food to get me through. Yes, I am #blessed and #livingmybestlife while drinking kombucha and eating acai bowls. Not really. I hate kombucha and prefer eating things with bread and cheese. Don’t get me wrong though. My life is great and I am surrounded by amazing people but.. back to the trips…. I have a confession to make. I am a food hoarder. Not the type who has rotting meat in her fridge or moldy bread peeking out of cupboards. I am a FREE food hoarder. My family and close friends know about this problem but for those of you who need some examples of what a FREE food hoarder looks like, here you go:

1) Anywhere there is free candy, you put some in your pocket. For example, my vet is right next to my “office” so I pop in to grab a mini Snickers or Twix whenever I think I might be running low. (Sidebar, I am NEVER running low.)

2) Airport lounges are free game. Especially the ones that have individual packages of cheese and crackers. The British Airways Lounge in Seattle has Oreos! I have started carrying Ziploc bags when I travel, not for my 3oz. toiletries but for my pilfered junk food.

3) Virgin America Main Cabin Select. Almost all of the snacks are free (see above picture). Not the M&Ms though. That was disappointing to find out.

4) When I move I purge my hoard so that I can start again in my new house. Expiration dates can be a real thing. The other day I opened a package of Nutter Butters. Who knew they could turn rancid?

I am not proud of this problem but house guests and children appreciate it when they come over. Oh, you thought I ate all of the junk food? No way. That isn’t healthy. I keep it because you never know when you might need it. If the apocalypse comes and we no longer have a viable currency, we might need Oreos to barter with. If that is the case, I will be ahead of the game.