The Backlot Gay Book Forum discussion

In the short-story 'Saturday Morning: Key West', the concluding sentence is "Next year, Caracas". What do you think this actually means ?

The narrator, Roger, is a gay man who's 8 years ago moved home to north Florida from New York City, to be a caretaker for his disabled father. He lives a quiet, uneventful life, and he's very lonely, and has trouble finding meaning in his life. He decides to take a weekend vacation, to visit his old friend and former lover, Lee, whom he knew in New York, but who now lives in Key West.

Roger is nervous about meeting Lee, whom he hasn't seen in 8 years, but whom he's kept in touch with over the phone. On the trip down, while changing planes in Miami, he briefly considers abruptly changing his plans, and flying down to Caracas instead. But he proceeds with his trip to Key West.

In Key West, he is warmly welcomed by Lee, and they renew their friendship. Lee is a recovering alcoholic who operates a small restaurant. Lee has recently had a falling-out with his lover, who is sick with AIDS and will no longer speak to him. Lee is also acting as caregiver to an older man who is terminally ill, and awaiting entrance into a hospice. Roger and Lee spend the weekend on the beach, bicycling around, dining-out, and spend the final evening at home in Lee's house reminiscing over old photo albums of themselves and their friends in New York years ago. They both enjoy each other's company, and seem to have renewed their friendship.

The next morning, Roger arises early, while Lee is still sleeping. Roger gazes out the window, and watching the sun come up, thinks "Next year, Caracas."

What does this mean ? Did something inadvertently disappoint him about his time in Key West ? Was he hoping to renew his romantic relationship with Lee, and it didn't happen ? Was it actually a positive thing, and Roger now feels renewed, and able to seek out new adventures for the future ? Is it a happy ending, a sad ending, or some combination of both ?