Hey, check it out, it’s Friday! That’s awesome.

It means I’m on my way to Minnesota! I hope to see some of you at the Sunday reading in Minneapolis – Sunday at 6pm at Magers & Quinn!

I PROBABLY won’t wear the shiny purple leggings but I packed them JUST IN CASE.

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I’ve been spending a fair amount of time jetting around these past couple of months. And there’s more to come, of course. I’m one of those people who actually loves flying. I mean, I love going to the airport and hanging out waiting for my flight and the excitement of figuring out where to go next.

There are always going to be thing that make us cranky, you know, but the overall experience? I’m a fan.

But, well, I’m also a death fat. 300+ pounds of 5′4″ woman with a pink rolling suitcase and a sweater in case the plane gets too cold. And the plane? It always gets too cold.

So I wanted to compile some tips on flying as a death fat.

1. Get to the airport early. I think this is a good travel tip for everyone, actually. When you’re early, you don’t have to freak out about how long the line is at security, how long the walk is to your gate, how long the line is in the bathroom because you really just freaking need to pee. One hour is the recommended minimum time for domestic flights – and you’ll use that hour, especially in a large airport. I need almost every minute of it when I’m flying out of Orlando. My flight out of Madison, Wisconsin? I could probably have shortened that time (it’s the cutest little airport ever, I tell you) from a practical standpoint but I’d have felt rushed and awful. International flights – I really do believe in the three hour rule. Even if you wind up just sitting there, take the time to move around. You’re going to be on the plane for a loooooooong time.

2. And, hey, use the bathroom before you board. Seriously, it seems like not a big deal at all but there is a certain amount of embarrassed frustration that comes along with disturbing your seatmates (if you don’t have an aisle seat) to make your way to an airplane bathroom in which you aren’t going to be comfortable. Airplane restrooms are designed for efficiency, not comfort, so the discomfort may very well have nothing to do with you or your size but, you know, why inflict that on yourself? Also, As a 28/30/32 on bottom, I can fit in the restrooms with no problems. But when it comes time for clean-up, if things aren’t arranged just right, it came be a little bit of a production to, well, bluntly, wipe. Larger death fats should ask to use the restrooms in first class – they are sometimes a little larger but not always. Airplane restrooms must meet certain accessibility requirements and that can be handy for us but, really, in this case if it’s possible, follow the old parental classic and go before you leave.

Obviously this has limited applicability if you are on really long flights or if you simply need to use the restroom more often than I do. In that case, keep in mind that the restroom is there for your convenience and there is more than one. Take the time that you need. You do not have to rush. I’m not saying take a book in there and wait out the whole of the flight but so much discomfort seems to arise from hurrying through a task that would be easier if a little more time was allotted. Seat placement can also make getting to the restroom a little easier.

3. Early check-in can help you get better seats. Choose an aisle or a window seat. If you aren’t going to be getting up at all, a window seat (especially if you know the plane has adjustable arm rests on the wall-side of the seat) can give you valuable extra inches. Unfortunately, if the windows are misaligned, some seats actually have LESS space. Use a service like Seat Guru to get information ahead of time. Knowing is half the battle, right? Even though it sometimes means I have to get up for the convenience of my seatmates, I actually prefer an aisle seat. This gives me a little leaning room AND it keeps me from feeling caged in. Also, there’s a little more leg room. I cannot handle feeling trapped and unable to move. The primary disadvantage of the aisle seat is that, if you aren’t paying attention, you can get whacked on the arm (I’ve never had it happen with painful force but I’m sure it could) with the beverage cart if the flight attendant isn’t paying attention, too. Know your own preferences and habits for this one.

4. Bring something to do. Reading, knitting, listening to music, wev. I only knit if the seat beside me is empty because I need elbow room. Otherwise, I read and/or listen to my iPod. It passes the time more quickly and that’s a good thing. Also, it creates a little bit of a barrier between you and your seatmate. Honestly, I’ve had awesome conversations on planes before. But you don’t want to depend on it.

5. In general, accept that this isn’t going to be the most comfy method of travel. For anyone. It’s flying in a too cold, metal can. With engine noise and pressure changes and turbulence. This isn’t a situation that is comfy for anyone, really. In addition, the seats tend to be between 17 and 18 inches wide. Y’all, that’s not much room. I can still fit, because I am just as round as I am wide, but if you’re shaped differently, your discomfort levels are going to rachet up because those arm rests are pretty unforgiving. Put them up, if possible.

6. Bring your own seat belt extender. I was on a commuter jet from Detroit to Madison, flying NorthWest Airlines (NWA is their abbreviation which always makes me think of the rap artists) and found out that, dude, they don’t HAVE seat belt extenders. The extenders are built into two of the seats on the plane so if you aren’t in one of those seats and you need one, you’re kind of screwed. Of course the flight attendants are willing to arrange a seat swap but if you’re tired and uncomfortable already, that’s needless difficulty. Carry your own seat belt extender and avoid the whole damn issue.

7. Bring a sweater. I carry a cardigan with me at all times. I use it more as a blanket on planes because the air just gets cold. Having a sweater means I will be warm enough to sleep – which I have no problem doing on planes – or at least to doze off and relax.

8. Dress comfortably but smartly. So. I was getting dressed for the airport the other day, slicking on the red lipstick, and thinking about those women who travel in their pajamas. Or in school sweat suits. Or, you know, whatever. As a death fat, I could do the same thing but dressing up a little bit makes my life a whole hell of a lot easier. Let me explain.

There are a whole lot of default assumptions that go along with fat: smelly, messy, unruly, uncontrolled, etc. When passengers complain about fat people, I think they are complaining about these stereotypes more than they are complaining about actual people. While I’m not generally into stereotype busting as the sole means of activism, I do it here because it makes my travel life about a hundred times easier. When I’m dressed in an Outfit, people treat me differently. They take me seriously, as a human being and as a customer. And as a fellow passenger. I tend toward all-black – some flowy jersey pants and a cool shirt or something. Bright lipstick (but no other makeup). A smile. Suddenly, I am a pulled-together, experienced traveller!

You know what it is? It’s acting like you belong. Even if you don’t feel it. People respond to that.

9. Be nice to people. Seriously, on this trip, being nice and letting them move my seat so a family could sit together (even though it could have stuck me in a middle seat somewhere) got me a free upgrade and a much more comfortable seat and flying experience. Of course, that sort of thing doesn’t generally happen, but it gets people on your side. This does, of course, sound really manipulative which is kind of gross. But it’s also practical. You don’t have to go out of your way to chat people up. But smile at the flight attendants – they’ve probably dealt with some extremely crappy passengers. Be pleasant to your fellow passengers. It makes a difference in your flight experience.

10. If you can afford it, upgrade. I hate suggesting this, I seriously do. But I am at the limits of what a standard economy class seat will comfortable fit. If you are larger, you will be faced with MORE discomfort. And that sucks. Hugely. You can ask gate agents specifically to see if there’s a way to sit next to an empty seat and you can ask to fly during less full times to help make that happen. Ask to be seated next to children. All of this stuff will work and give you a little more room but it doesn’t necessarily increase your comfort. As much as I think United is a bunch of jerkfaces, I have to commend them on the Economy Plus class which is about $50 a leg more expensive than regular economy. I won’t be flying it often but if I’m in a high stress situation AND I have the money for it? I will go for it. Because the thing that ultimately makes flying while fat so freaking difficult is that you have to do so much WORK to make yourself even marginally comfortable.

It’s not great. I won’t lie to you. When there’s the “this flight is full” announcement, I have perfectly legitimate fear that I will be singled out because of my size and bumped from the flight. I think smaller fats might worry about this, too, but it’s a very real thing that bigger fats have to anticipate and know how to juggle. Man, I hate giving some of this advice. The necessity for it makes me even more angry at the airlines that we can’t simply show up and trust that we will be treated with, you know, basic dignity and human respect.

But I don’t think that anger and fear should prevent us from traveling, especially when I know people who experience negative consequences at their jobs if they can’t travel. It IS possible to be a death fat on a plane. Forewarned is forearmed.

While I have never been bumped from a flight (yet), I do have some suggestions, researched rather than experienced. If a gate agent (or check in agent) is telling you that you will be bumped due to size, ask to speak to their supervisor. Ask if an airport representative can be there as well. Stay as calm as possible. Be familiar with the policy of the airline – and avoid, if possible, airlines that have established policies for bumping fat people. Depending on what is going to work FOR YOU, tell them that you can either take the next flight to be cooperative or that you cannot as you are traveling for business (as long as this is true) and need to arrive at your destination at a specific time. Bring it back to their failure to accommodate you as a customer. As if they can upgrade your seat for free since they are the ones who oversold the flight. As if you will be reimbursed for your trouble.

And remember that, honestly, this is why America has lawyers. This is an issue of discrimination. If you find a reputable lawyer who specialized in civil justice cases, you probably won’t even need funding up front.

Keeping the possibility of litigation in the back of your mind does not really make for a relaxing vacation, though. Figure out a strategy and then, as much as possible, don’t think about it. The odds are that you are going to have a perfectly average flight. You’ll be one of a bunch of flyers whose bodies just don’t fit the space and everyone will grumble and shift because even if they fit, the seats are not exactly comfy. You’ll come out ahead because you’ll be prepared for the regular pitfalls of travel. And then you’ll have a great time at your destination. Flying is temporary, after all. It gets you where you need to go.

Go and have fun. I know I will (in NYC, June 5th at Re/Dress – more info later!).

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Apparently, I write letters now, too. And I want to write to you because you are so freaking precious. I don’t mean that to be condescending – though it often reads that way because it is such a saccharine term. But, Andrew Zimmern, I think you are utterly precious. I will explain.

Man, sometimes I can’t actually watch while you eat the bizarre foods that you eat. Particularly the slimy stuff. That sea urchin in a bottle? Yeah, no way.

You approach all of it with vim and vigor, enthusiasm and earnest joy that you are where you are with the opportunity to try what you are about to try. Your fondness for organ meats and eye balls inspires me to give more mundane things a try. I’m not quite at the “oooooooh, testicles!” stage of the game yet, but I’m working on it! I had brussell sprouts the other day and felt my vegetable world shift on its axis.

But, seriously dude, please stop hating your body. You’re a minorly fat dude. I don’t want to venture any guesses because that is always a disaster, but, yeah, I think you are a little bit fat and I think that is totally and completely awesome. I wish you also thought it was awesome instead of making self-deprecating remarks and trying various international herbal diet techniques as part of your global food survey.

Though, now that I think about it, drinking cow urine is not the craziest weight loss technique I’ve ever heard of.

Back to the point: The point, Andrew, is that you are an awesome guy with an awesome job. Why do you have to keep putting yourself down?

There’s this part in Ratatouille (and, yeah, I’m referencing the Disney movie here), where Linguini insults the critic Ego by saying he’s very thin for someone who loves food. Ego responds, “If I don’t LOVE IT, I don’t SWALLOW.” Andrew, you are so much cooler than that. You love so many different kinds of food that it is totally inspirational.

You seem like a really genuine and GOOD person. Own that, dude. We already like you for it. We’ll like you even more when you aren’t putting yourself down for being a bit on the fat side of the street. And we’ll like you even more even more for being an unapologetic fat person making a living by eating food on television. No matter how bizarre that food is. *grin*

Love,
Marianne

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I’m getting ready to do a little traveling and so tonight I am packing a suitcase. Traveling While Fat is always a hot issue but I am not sweating it.

Comfortable, colorful, clothes that I love? Check.

Seatbelt extender? Check.

Medication and sunblock and other health essentials? Check.

Bathing suit?

Yeah, about that.

I HAVE a bathing suit. It’s even sitting there, with the rest of my stuff, waiting to be efficiently arranged in my suitcase. But actually wearing it is going to be a little bit of a challenge this time.

See, this is a family vacation. My sister-in-law got married and this is the celebratory trip and it is going to be a LOT of fun. But I don’t know the vast majority of these people and while it is pretty much completely obvious that I am totally fat, putting on a bathing suit in front of people that you’re going to know for the rest of your life can be strangely stressful. Added to all of this is the way my bathing suit is a bit too big and so fits kind of saggy.

It’s so much easier to stand up to strangers, to disregard the looks and judgment when it comes from someone you’ll probably never see again. When it’s strangers that are suddenly family? It’s a little harder.

I’ll wear the bathing suit, of course.

I mean, dude, we’ll be at the beach. And starting out hiding from these people is no way to, well, start out! Doing what scares me is scary but good for me.

After all, if I anticipate that these people will judge me, I give power to the assholes in the past who have tried to make me feel bad about myself and my body. I don’t want people to judge me based on what they think they see – why would I turn around and do that to someone else?

There’s a lot of hurt that fat people often carry around. We’ve had so many bad experiences. It can be really easy to give in to that – to let ourselves be bitter and fearful. Fighting off that bitterness, that certainty of judgment can be the hardest part of fat acceptance. In fact, I will say, honestly, it IS the hardest part for me. I’m still kind of afraid of groups of teenaged boys – they’ve historically offered me the most ridicule. I don’t think that’s any reason to change my life, though, to structure it around avoiding them.

I hate to say it so bluntly, but it’s one of those things I just had to get over. And before I got over it, I had to fake it.

That’s how I’ll manage to wear the bathing suit – I’ll fake it until the setting kicks my anxiety right out the door. It’s the beach!

Give other people a chance, even – maybe even especially, if it scares you.

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So, this weekend (as a belated birthday celebration) my husband and I went to Walt Disney World. We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and visited the Magic Kingdom on Saturday and Epcot on Sunday.

Living in Orlando gives you a different perspective on The Mouse. It isn’t all fairy dust and tiaras on-property, let me tell you. It isn’t so much being sick of the sweetness – it’s being disillusioned with the magic, I think; it’s knowing that Disney is just as much an evil mega-corp as every other evil mega-corp, with their eye firmly on the bottom line and their image.

It’s easy to let yourself be jaded about Disney when you live here. And that means it can be hard to embrace childlike wonder, so it serves you well to set aside some of that post-modern hipster cooler-than-thou attitude and put on a pair of Micky Mouse (or, in my case, silver sequined Minnie) ears.

Which is exactly what I did. And, wow, I seriously had so much fun.

I could talk a lot about the silly awesomeness of our time at Disney but this is a fat blog so let’s talk about the realities and practicalities of being a fatty fatty two by four at Walt Disney World.

Remarkably, 9/10 of the time, being fat was no problem whatsoever. Say what you will about the manufactured experience provided by Disney but they do a damn good job of making sure as many people as possible can access that experience. From service and assistance for the mobility-impaired through the lines to special boats/cars (a lot of Disney’s rides are on little boats) with ample room for scooters and wheelchairs, it really seems like Disney is actively working to make sure everyone can enjoy the rides. When you enter the park, you get a little map with each attraction and restaurant and the map has a key that provides a lot of information – including whether or not you will have to transfer out of your wheelchair. They mark at which rides (practically all of the narrated ones) you can get an assistance device that will describe things if you are sight-impaired and, I think, present the narration as text if you are hearing-impaired. All of the videos have captioning.

Is it any wonder, in the middle of all of this, that accomodations for different bodies have been made? Even rides with those bars that come down over your lap were roomy enough to be comfortable (in as much as a fiberglass seat with nonslip grippy stuff on it CAN be comfortable). Mission: Space, a space-flight simulator at Epcot, has this restraint that comes down over your shoulders. My boobs foil that style of restraint every damn time. This one worked just fine. And then the simulator closed in around us and I had plenty of room. The mind boggles!

My husband and I were occasionally squished up against each other a little tightly. But I get the feeling that is just what happens when you put two full-size adults in a clam-mobile meant for kids (The Living Seas was transformed into, simply, the Seas and there is a Finding Nemo ride that is so excellently cute that ends at a really fab aquarium). If you are both tall and fat, your knees might not know where to rest on Test Track but my profound bottom fit in the molded seats without any trouble. Which was awesome when we were doing 65mph on the track outside (it feels much faster in an open-air ride than in your car, let me tell you).

My only real complaint at Magic Kingdom and Epcot is that there are these turnstiles, see. Not every ride has them, and the newer ones that have the turnstiles have wider ones. But the older rides with turnstiles are kind of… narrow. I found myself squeezing through and having to do a full turn (that might have also been because my cargo pockets were full of stuff and catching on things). Still, I can see how it would be an embarrassing situation for some people. I’d advise you to speak with a castmember (there are a lot of them about) and ask to go through the wheelchair entrance if you are worried about that.

It’s late September so it’s still pretty much summer here in Orlando. If you are not good with heat, wait until December or January. There really is just as much walking and standing as you might imagine (oh, how my feet were thankful that I own a pair of Crocs yesterday!), so if you aren’t particularly spry and you don’t have a mobility assistance device, you might not want to plan on a full day. You will absolutely need some sort of anti-chaffing technology. We used Silky Underwear powder from Lush and wore pants – those seamless bike shorts from the Avenue (which have, sadly, been discontinued) would also be an ideal solution if you’d rather wear a skirt. We still got a little chaffed – we probably spent 14 hours walking around and while it was nice out, it was hot enough to sweat. Not to mention the aftermath of the water rides….

Disney is probably the most fat friendly park I’ve visited. There are not a lot of roller coasters so coaster junkies will be disappointed but if you are looking for a whimsical kind of good time, there are very few other places that are going to be so accomodating.

We had so much fun, we’re looking at seasonal annual passes (a special pass for Florida residents). Not a bad fatty vacation destination at all.

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I seriously love to travel. And I love love love freaking love flying. I love being at the airport, I love waiting for takeoff, I love the slight falling feeling in my stomach when there is a little turbulence. I love scoping out the incredibly efficient storage on most planes. I love the excitement of landing in a new place, even if it is a place I have been a hundred times before.

What don’t I love? Tiny seats and the increasing fear that I will be deemed too fat and required to pay for a second seat, which I cannot afford.

Thus far, though I am far from small, I have not had any trouble with this. But, as the guest poster at Fatshionista.com shared with us yesterday, it happens and when it does happen it is usually handled in a deeply shaming and humiliating fashion.

Today, Lesley raises some important questions. I hope you’ll go over and share your thoughts on this topic with her.

And I know a lot of people hate flying so I have compiled some of my thoughts.

10 Tips Toward A More Enjoyable Flight

1. Arrive early. Seriously, y’all, there is a lot of suck involved in trying to scramble through security at the very very very last minute. I have done this. It only results in you being super uncomfortable and kind of sweaty because you have made a last-minute, panicked dash to your gate, with one shoe on and one shoe flopping from the hand you are not using to drag your over-stuff baggage. Arrive early. At least one hour for a domestic flight and at least two for international flights. This may seem like a long time, but it will help you avoid the stress of watching the clock tick closer and closer to your departure time while you are still trying to check in.

2. Pack lightly. If you are going for a weekend, you probably don’t even need to check luggage. This is more difficult these days, what with restrictions on carry-ons (ridiculous restrictions but we have to work with them) but if you can manage it, your flying experience will be 9 times easier with just a carry-on. Remember, you can probably buy anything you need at your destination – so if you are bringing a lot of just-in-case stuff, reevaluate just how necessary it is.

3. If you do need to check a bag, consider curbside check in. This has traditionally been a tip-only service but a few airlines are charging for it now. It is worth the convenience fee – it is a serious convenience. You avoid all the drama of checking in inside the airport and you don’t have to do anything other than lug the bag(s) out of the trunk and up to the kiosk.

4. If you don’t do curbside check in, use the electronic check-in stations if at all possible. These are super easy, especially if you are just bringing a carry on. The lines are generally non-existent, especially if you get there early.

5. Y’all, DO look up what is allowed and what is not when it comes to what goes in your carry on. TSA is a pain in the ass but, as a general rule, they are just doing their job (this is obviously not true when people are being harassed because they have “suspicious” names or because they wear a certain t-shirt or look a certain way) and having to stop the x-ray machine to examine the giant bottle of nail polish remover (this comes in pads, which are much better for travel) so they can ask you to remove it just holds everyone else up.

6. Keep in mind, travel is uncomfortable. It just is. Unless you are flying luxury first class, you – and all of your travel companions – are going to have to put up with a little bit of discomfort and/or stress. Airline staff deal with angry and stressed customers all damn day. A bit of cheerful courtesy on your part goes a long way. Often, it goes such a long way that you find yourself with an upgrade. This is how I know that I REALLY like business class.

7. Eat before you fly. Seriously. You’re there early, you have to do something. Airplane food, even when it was still free, sucks. Buy a bottle of water and have a sandwich. I usually budget for a hotdog or something at my gate. You can bring your own food on the plane but, trust me, the odor circulates a lot further than you think and omg, gag, there is very little that sucks as much as sitting there having to smell someone else’s food especially if you think it smells gross.

8. Understand that the seats are too small for just about everyone. Request an aisle seat if at all possible – it will help prevent you from being mashed up against a wall or between two strangers. Angle for the exit row. Some airlines are charging a little more for these seats – sometimes, if you can afford it, it is absolutely worth it. Keep in mind that if you require a seatbelt extender some airlines won’t let you sit in an exit row; they are concerned about mobility issues. This is crap but I have not found it worth fighting.

9. Carry your own seat belt extender if you need one. Some flight attendants are great and sympathetic and discreet. Others are totally bad people who will humiliate you even if you don’t have any particular trouble with the idea of needing a seat belt extender – it doesn’t bother me but I have been made uncomfortable by flight attendants who have acted like I was speaking a foreign language until I had to shout my request. It’s much simpler to carry your own and avoid the whole flight attendant hassle.

10. Keep gum in your bag or something to help with the ear popping thing. Take a decongestant before you go to the airport if you are having sinus problems. Do that thing where you hold onto your nose and equalize the pressure in your ears. Be prepared for babies to cry during take off and landing because they do not yet possess the motor skills to hold their nose and equalize the pressure in their ears and it hurts.

Flying with kids is a whole ‘nother ball of wax, of course, but most of these tips still apply. If you have kids, make sure you have everything you need when it comes to feeding and entertaining the child. Expecting any kid to sit there for however long in an uncomfortable environment with no entertainment is just too much, I think. Books and quiet toys seem, from my observations, to go a long way toward helping kids have a more enjoyable flight, too.

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First and foremost, you guys absolutely rock. Thank you for your spirited defense of this blog in the face of the Orlando Weekly blurb. It means the world to me both as a person and as a writer.

Do we need tshirts that say Soft _________ Jiggle so you can fill in the blank with your own hometown? I think we might.

In other news, I didn’t mean to disappear these past four days. I took my husband to Key West for his birthday this weekend and the B&B had no internet! It really was an incredible trip but I hadn’t anticipated being without a reliable net connection. I’m trying to catch up and I really AM going to write up that other romance novel.

But right now? A sort of abbreviated travel guide to Key West for fatties.

First and foremost, Key West is hot. Hot hot hot. It’s gorgeous and the sun has this amazing clear quality but if you are not comfortable in shorts, or at least cropped/capri/pedal pushers, you are going to be deeply uncomfortable. I’d say that a willingness to wear short sleeves at least (with tank tops for extra comfort credit) is required. I spent the weekend running around in a jean skirt (seamless bike shorts from the Avenue for the win!) and a couple of pairs of the really lightweight cropped pants from Lane Bryant. You are going to sweat, there is no two ways about it, so you want light fabrics that will dry quickly. And you also want serious chub rub protection, hence the seamless bike shorts under my skirt. I haven’t really had any success with any of the various creams and powders that some people swear by – your mileage might vary.

Key West, especially if you are staying in Old Town – the historical part of the city instead of the new stuff – is a walking town. You want good supportive shoes that, again, will protect your feet from moisture and keep them cool and comfortable. If you are not able or comfortable walking long distances, you might consider renting one of the little electric cars that zip all over town. However, there are some areas that just don’t seem wheelchair accessible. For example, there was a ramp in addition to stairs to access the glassbottom boat but the gangway onto the boat was not wheelchair-friendly in the slightest, nor was the boat itself.

And if stairs are an issue for you, make sure to stay in the more modern accomodations. The B&Bs are almost all dominated by stairs. Stairs inside to get to the second floor and stairs outside to get to the third floor. The rooms are fantastic and the historical buildings are beautiful and fascinating, but they are not designed with easy access in mind. The newer accomodations (many of which are built right up by the harbor) are a lot easier to access. Part of this is practical – the buildings are all built up off the ground to avoid flooding – but I can’t tell if they just haven’t THOUGHT about retrofitting or if other concerns (there are more houses on the National Register of Historic Homes than off, it seems) that prevent it.

We took in a lot of attractions – a lot of the stuff in Key West is old. The Aquarium was built in the 30s and it shows. The turnstiles at almost every single attraction are narrow and I did not easily spot gates for people who had problems with the turnstiles. I went through every single one sideways and managed it without trouble but still. It’s something to note, especially if you are easily embarassed. My hips are around 60 inches – I wouldn’t attempt the Key West attraction turnstiles if your hips measure larger than that.

The Conch Tour Train, to give you another example, has really small leg allowances on its little cars. The trolley might be a better choice for those in need of leg room.

Despite the physical difficulties that can crop up in Key West, there are a lot of different bodies moving through the streets. I was not the only fat person in town (which, I swear, happens to me in Miami) and I never once got the sense that anyone was judging me because of my size. It’s an interesting contradiction, the result of people not caring about weight but also not taking into account issues of accessibility.

You will need to know your weight if you plan to take one of the sea planes anywhere. You will need to be on your toes to avoid cross-contamination if you have seafood/shellfish allergies because the town is DEVOTED to seafood in general and shellfish in particular (I had one minor issue at a restaurant that did not impress overall).

At the final judgement, I think Key West requires that you have a certain amount of body confidence already in place – both confidence in your own body as you walk around in a tank top, sweating in the 2pm sun and the confidence to not compare yourself to all of the OTHER sweaty bodies walking around in the 2pm sun. Scanty clothing is common. It could be intimidating. The activities in Key West are most accessible to people who are comfortable with walking medium distances. The island is only 4×1.5 miles so it isn’t like any long-distance walking is really possible, but still.

Our vacation was a super success, but it pays to know this stuff and not be unpleasantly surprised.

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Are there any fatties planning on making the trip to C14? I am SO going to be there and it might be fun to meet up and have ourselves a damn good time.

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