8 Lessons I Learned From My Alternative Parents

My parents own approximately . . . well, nothing. They don’t own property, they rent their vehicles, and we recently discovered that 90 percent of my mother’s furniture was gifted to her. We didn’t have a childhood home, with my height measurements etched into the doorframe and a golden retriever lounging on the porch — but we had experiences. I have traveled across Europe, attended more Broadway shows than I can count, and eaten at The French Laundry. We’ve always been a family of few possessions and fewer complaints, because the trips, adventures, and meals we’ve experienced together have taught us more about ourselves, our relationships with each other, and the world around us.