SEATTLE — Natalie was not feeling my lodging.

“ There’s a line between saving money and safety!!! Bruh!!! ,” my big cousin texted on Sept. 7. “ Are you safe there? (Because) I have a couch .”

While she fretted, I saw value. The spot was in a prime part of town, the people were welcoming and, at $51 a night, it felt like a steal.

That place was the Green Tortoise Hostel — its worn wooden floors creaked beneath rows of bunk beds humming with the quiet connections of strangers passing through.

Not exactly luxury, but it was an affordable place to lay my head during my long-awaited West Coast adventure.

The last time I was in Seattle, Kevin Durant was still a rookie. For 18 years, returning had been on my to-do list.

This visit, though, was just a quick pit stop.

The real reason for

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