How do you repay your hosts?

[okmunky]

Originally Posted by Bill Adams

".....morally opposed to gift giving"? You must be a treasure during the Holidays!.

I detest gifting for the sake of the gifts -- as in the dumb things sold around the holidays that just sit around collecting dust. Mindless consumerism, Hallmark holidays (days made up to sell cards and gifts) and merchant promoted ritualism (weddings, funerals, etc where the true beneficiaries are the merchants who sell the goods) $10,000,000 for a wedding??? give the $ to a worthy cause and say your "I Dos" at the court house. What message are we sending to our kids? Our country has sold away the next 3 generations by spending without earning, all so...

Ok, enough ranting. You get the picture. I feel the best thing you can give is your time and attention. My thing is working in the yard. Sadly, I enjoy pulling weeds. I can easily see accomplishment in the clean beds and bulging sack of errant vegetation.

I do like some of your ideas, though, thanks!

[okmunky]

I've been in Washington State since early June. Weather has been MARVELOUS. IF I go to visit friends in the southern states it will be after November. My momma didn't raise no fool. I tell everyone to expect me to be their fair-weathered friend.

[Francesca]

Hi, Barb

Your thread title "How do you repay your hosts" really says it all- when folks do us a kindness, a reciprocal kindness is appropriate
That's not gift-giving: it's just good manners, right?
Not to mention a bit of warm-welcome insurance for future stayovers
Sounds like your gardening efforts satisfied that in your current situation, but for those down the road who don't have gardens etc.,
I think the best idea offered here is Larry and Rita's.
As you pointed out, many folks refuse cash when it's offered to them, but
nobody will refuse a fifty dollar bill they find in the freezer a few days after you leave...

I think that's just brilliant, and I'm going to use it myself!

Good Travels!

Francesca

[Midniteoyl]

Originally Posted by okmunky

I detest gifting for the sake of the gifts -- as in the dumb things sold around the holidays that just sit around collecting dust. ....etc..

A good gift, a true gift, is one that is used and/or enjoyed...

[CD]

DW has an uncle that you can't even get close to let alone getting even with. One time when we parked beside their house in Az. (with full hookups) we left some money in their freezer in an envelope that had "COLD CASH" written on it. I'm sure it was repaided many times over since but we got them that time.

[Francesca]

"Cold Cash"!

I love it....
And I'm gonna use that line, too

Thanks!

Francesca

[Bill Adams]

Originally Posted by okmunky

I detest gifting for the sake of the gifts -- as in the dumb things sold around the holidays that just sit around collecting dust. Mindless consumerism, Hallmark holidays (days made up to sell cards and gifts) and merchant promoted ritualism (weddings, funerals, etc where the true beneficiaries are the merchants who sell the goods) $10,000,000 for a wedding??? give the $ to a worthy cause and say your "I Dos" at the court house. What message are we sending to our kids? Our country has sold away the next 3 generations by spending without earning, all so...

Ok, enough ranting. You get the picture. I feel the best thing you can give is your time and attention. My thing is working in the yard. Sadly, I enjoy pulling weeds. I can easily see accomplishment in the clean beds and bulging sack of errant vegetation.

I do like some of your ideas, though, thanks!

I guess I understand you thinking, I guess I am just morally opposed to it!
I like giving gifts to those who deserve recognition and I appreciate receiving a gift from those I have pleased. I am not a junk hoarder (only a few RVers are) so I don't care for junk. A gift card to my favorite restaurant, a bottle of wine (not Boone's Farm, but a wine with a bit of thought put behind it), cash with a handshake, whatever. It's much appreciated. I once had a former employee who I knew needed some help. I also knew that this person would refuse a check or cash in the amount I wanted her to have. I gave an envelope of cash to a mutual friend and had it delivered after I was gone. I felt like a million dollars as I knew that it would fill a necessary gap for her. She felt good because she knew it was a gift from the heart with no further expectations. Gift giving can be a beautiful thing and I am very sorry that you see things through a colored lens that distorts this reality.

[Chuck 1935]

Originally Posted by Martind4

I'm known as the resident handyman in our family so I usually end up fixing leaky faucets, sticky doors and other things that just don't seem to get fixed.

Normally, we like to leave a place in better condition than we found it. A dinner out also helps as a way to say thanks.

That is funny. It's the same with me. I do the same stuff and also add "sharpening knives ". I enjoy doing it and it makes people happy.

[okmunky]

Originally Posted by Bill Adams

Gift giving can be a beautiful thing and I am very sorry that you see things through a colored lens that distorts this reality.

You are so right, Bill and I am not opposed to gift giving that comes from the heart. I have truly been blessed by the gifts I have received, but few have been tangible in nature. I suppose I should have phrased my objections to "obligatory giving", and "mindless materialism" rather than gifting.

I just retired after spending 10 years as personal assistant to a woman who likes "things" and a large part of my day was spent managing those "things". Each of the last 10 years my list of possessions declined, hers seemed to grow exponentially.

Everything I own fits in this small motorhome plus 8 cubic feet of momentos that I have stored in my daughter's basement and a car stored at my brother's house. Moving into an RV was an easy transition for me.

Thank you all for the ideas on how to say thanks to those who have shared so generously with me.

[Bucksmom]

A donation to the hosts favorite charity in their name or a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant are also things that would be appreciated

[melvonnar]

I've been a host to a relative for several weeks a year for the past 15 years; last year I decided to visit them; when I called to see when it was convient for me to visit them, I was told by them that they wouldn't be home; this was before a date was even suggested.
The next time they called me and told me they were comming I told them I wouldn't be home; They got madder that stink,
Takes all kinds.

[hondo122]

Originally Posted by melvonnar

I've been a host to a relative for several weeks a year for the past 15 years; last year I decided to visit them; when I called to see when it was convient for me to visit them, I was told by them that they wouldn't be home; this was before a date was even suggested.
The next time they called me and told me they were comming I told them I wouldn't be home; They got madder that stink,
Takes all kinds.

You weren't hosting them , they were mooches, just looking for a free place stay, while you were on the providing end of the equation everything was good, now not so much. You didn't lose anything.