Hola Mike: I'll start first by saying yours is the first article of my day, and I selected it because your title caught me by surprise (what?? he's leaving the platform!?!?!?).

Ok, we've had a bit of interaction on Medium (mostly on my end), so you know I appreciate your stories and the value you bring. I am prefacing my remarks with the above because I want you to understand that it is not an attack.

The highlighted section screamed at me: GENTRIFICATION.

Of course, I could be mistaken in my assumptions. And if so, please let me know. But, are you and/or your wife of Thai descent? Does either of you have close Thai friends with whom you're collaborating on building businesses in that country to benefit the locals?

I ask these questions because last year I returned home, to Borikén (colonizer name: Puerto Rico) and am horrified at how many folks are here gentrifying the archipelago. People (many are white Americans, who have zero ties to this ancestral land) are taking advantage of Ley 60 (tax benefits), buying land and property, often converting same into AirBnBs.

It's a whole lot more I could say on the subject. It's entirely possible there are some folks who genuinely intend to support our local communities, but the reality remains entirely too many non-Boricuas are rolling up in here all entitled. (Note: I'll be clear, I've also met a few Black Americans interested in moving here. My conversations with them are the same ones I have with white folk and other non-Boricua folks looking to benefit here).

For the record, I identify as Afro-Boricua (tho, I have traced a pinch of Spaniard lineage). Racially, I align more closely with Indigenous and Black. I only bring this up because it is possible for Brown & Black folk to be gentrifiers!

Thank you for allowing me to express myself. The subject (of gentrification/colonization) is very personal to me and it's one I refuse to keep hush on.