Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain
I'm currently living in Japan, about 40 min. drive out of Tokyo. I teach at a university about 6 months of the year, and the rest of the time I work with a Japanese publisher to produce English textbooks. Not a bad life -- lots of time to travel.
As far as I know the only hostel on Lake Como is closing it's doors for good. I think it's a shame for people on a budget not to have a place to stay. I love this place and only wish to share it with others, so there's plenty of room.