
We had two nights in NY before we left, the first we optimistically decided to spend in our empty apartment. The only things left in the apartment were the various recycling items and some cleaning supplies, so I cut open an empty cardboard box and set it out on the floor as a pad, then made a sort of mattress out of plastic bags (it was almost big enough for my torso), layered the three shirts and three pairs of pants, small Shamwow and yoga towel I had packed for the trip. It made a pretty good bed or the first three minutes, and after that it was just better than the floor. The radiator had been off for about a week, so it was also freezing, but the next night a dear friend gave us a warm bed to sleep in and now we are off!