Summer is here, and many folks will travel to see loved ones. Are you ready?

We always host a variety of friends, and we also visit our favorite people for a couple of days. I learned a few years back that it peeved one dear friend if I  cooked every meal myself rather than letting her jump in and suggest a meal or two.  She grew incensed when I demurred about them picking up dinner for all of us.

I later realized (before the friendship was beyond repair) that she felt like a sluggardly, worthless human being when I did all the work. In recent days, I've also stayed with some friends who, despite forceful and persuasive invites, seemed unprepared for company.  I will go to any lengths to avoid staying with them in the future, and they will flip if I stay at a motel.
When I have company coming--I clean as if everyone coming is allergic to dust and cat hair.  I wash bedding, clorox the whole bathroom.  This is just basic courtesy!  Even if bedding is clean, if you have animals who sleep on beds and couches, movement stirs up animal dander.

Keep good, basic food on hand that most people enjoy.  Plan for 3 meals and snacks even if you don't usually eat much.  Be flexible!  If others are on a diet, refrain from urging them to eat "just a little." Do you really want a friend to go into sugar shock?

Don't schedule every moment of the day.  Travelers need down time.

Keep kleenex and toilet paper within searching distance.  It's not cool for visitors to lack paper necessities.

Suspend your normal activities, if possible, to be with friends. It's about relationships!