The roommates invited me to join them at South Beach over on Staten Island. Since my “weekend” usually falls on Monday-Tuesday these days, I was happy to get out and socialize and soak up some rays. I hadn’t been to the fifth borough since last spring, when I spent time with one of the stars of “Truth to Power,” during my final semester at J-school.

A Staten Island staple, apparently. Good stuff.

Staten Island is funny to me because you step off the ferry and it’s like you’re back in America. There’s little houses all lined up with American flags out front. People drive cars and families line up to get Italian ices after a day at the beach and they only cost $2.

Then, you hop back on a ferry and it’s off to Planet Manhattan, with continuing service to one of its moons, Brooklyn.

Bonus pic: “Yeah, I think you need to focus it.”

Now, after seven months, I’ve set foot in all five boroughs.