Millennials

[Inna22]

Now that Millennials are 22-40 years old, they make up the bulk of my guests and I am yet to master how adjust my hosting style to their needs.

Messaging style

You cannot just answer the question asked, no matter how simple. It cannot be “where do I park?” Answer “in the garage, instructions are in the welcome message, please look through”. That would be rude. I first must start by appreciating them, followed by appreciating them reaching out. I then must apologize for not making it clear enough that parking is in the garage. If it did not make sense to them, it must have been a very poor architectural decision or I did not do enough to make it clear. I also need to explain how I will make things better in the future so others do not have to go through the same ordeal. I should technically also offer to park the car for them but this is just a gesture and they would of course say no and I must remember how generous they were in doing that.

Reuse and recycle

They would take the time to rip out the plastic window from an envelope to properly recycle it but they would throw a towel in the trash after a smudge of makeup gets on it. It would not even cross their mind that I may try to salvage it.

Communication

It is all about them. If something is not how they expect it or to their liking, they will read every word of what I wrote, advocate for themselves and demand what they feel is right. Otherwise, it is my job to make sure they have what they need. They need a door code and it is my job to make sure they have it. They will not read a message I sent them, particularly if it is more than one paragraph.  If I did not make sure they got it, it is on me to be available when they do decide they are ready for it- by phone, in person or whatever other way is convenient for them

Technology

I now rarely have to deal with guests who cannot log on to Wi-Fi, cannot figure out the TV or automated door lock. Plunge the toilet? No can do. Manual labor. Hard no.

I hope I did not offend any millennials here with this post. If I did, please get in line behind my millennial guests for your apology. You can use the garage to park while you wait. If you need to use the bathroom, plunger is behind the toilet and please put all used towels on the floor even if you think they are trash.

[Melodie-And-John0]

@Ann72 , Backspace button?  Whats that, some newfangled gadget?  Ive been using white out with the new type-puter when it occasionally writes the wrong thing, (the same bottle for the last 30 years)!  @Patrick568 is right about not generalizing,  I actually don't think the "Feeling thing" is as much a Millennial thing as a sign of current touchy feely times.   To be fair, I am also not really a fan of the old adage my fellow boomers like to spit out " We do it this way because this is how we have always done it".   I'm not that cemented in my ways, just because its new doesnt mean its not good  (like that backspace button, I just might try it sometime, if...).   

Actually, the overuse of the word "feel" is kinda like the bulk application of the power words "Love" and "Hate", way overused and applied to situations that aren't deserving of honest emotional deepness that those words are intended to convey.    I'm really old yet over my lifetime, I can literally count the people I truly Love or Hate on my fingers and toe's and most of the things I do on a daily basis have very few actual "feelings"  associated with them worth emoting (except the feeling my body hurts after a long day of "living/ surviving the dream". 

That might be a "Just me" thing but there are some places and times where Feelings matter more than others, over-feeling could have the effect of diluting instead of accentuating the subject or topical application.  Last but not least, Patrick, your place is a very cool example of Art deco modern, not everyone's cup-o-joe but well played to be sure!   Stay and feel well!  JR

[Ute42]

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@Melodie-And-John0 

Years back I was working with an IBM ball head typewriter in the office. It had a white out tape built in. That was somtething at that time.

[Ann72]

@Ute42  I remember that - the IBM Selectric, I believe - a word not recognized by spell-check!

[Melodie-And-John0]

@Ute42 , Back in the 80's I did a stint as a Battalion Motor clerk which required I type lots of reports for our Motor officers to send up the line.   When I got the job, we had the IBM Ball head you mentioned and my awful typing required I use that white out tape lots.  Soon after, My chief found a IBM Memory writer bound for a  generals secretary that "Fell off the Truck" and onto my desk!   The next 6 months was a breeze as I would create the reports on it, and save then modify them even up to 5 minutes before they were due and press print!   It was da-bomb, my reports looked perfect even though I was about the worst secretary ever.   40 years later my typing is still much like a chicken pecking at the keyboard but computers make it nearly acceptable.   

I have to say, I love talk to text but I have to remind myself to check it before I send it or get ready to regret pressing "enter".  Stay well, JR

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Inna22 @Ann72 @Sarah977 @Ute42 @Emilia42 @Debra300 @Sarah977 @Susan1404 @Helen350 @Lisa723 @Mark116 @Lawrene0 @Melodie-And-John0 

I was reading this in the office and barely stopped myself from giggling too loudly. Thank goodness I wasn't drinking coffee 🤣 😆 😂 😀

[Fred13]

I am beginning to think I host with a high degree of intimidation. LoL

I tend not to get many guests outside of the 35-60 year old bracket, meaning those who have some affordability, or still be adventurous. The young that fall through the cracks and come, I meet them at the island dock as their parents would, with an attitude that you are invading my space and you better don't screw up since I am doing you a big favor by allowing to stay in the first place. During instructions, I drag them about with the opening salvo of - "Pay attention, I am only going to say this once". If they dare ask - "Is there a local phone to call you to ask a question" I tell them it is there for an emergency, not paying attention doesn't qualify. When I leave, I tell them you won't hear from me and I am certain I wouldn't hear from them.

Actually, I get along very well with young people, they are vivacious and we always have a lot of fun talking about a million things and have turned out to be some of my best guests.

P.S. On Peter Frampton, who on this Earth is not a lifelong fan if fortunate enough to have been at that famous concert that turned out to become the 'Frampton Comes Alive' album. 

[Melodie-And-John0]

Wow @Fred13 , that must been one hellova show.  I can't imagine reliving that in your head every time you play the recording especially since the recording is such a high quality.  Very jealous!   As for the role and my  impact as Inn Keep, I think its my guests that try to lock me into  the persona they want not me, some want a dad, a husband, room mate, others need a maid, some want me to be a tour guide and still others, a best friend they never  had.   I try not to ruin anyone's illusion as long as it doesn't conflict with my wedding vows, morals or ethics but a few have defiantly tested my tolerances beyond my comfort zone and into my purple circle, thats when I am truly glad I am a STR host not a landlord, this too shall pass....

Stay well Fred, JR

[Robin4]

@Melodie-And-John0 

In 1964 a group of us bought tickets to see The Beatles when they came to Adelaide!

Originally Adelaide was not on the Beatles Australian tour schedule but, a local DJ by the name of Bob Francis got together a petition with 35,000 signatures, sent it off to Brian Epstein who was The Beatles manager at the time and......the next thing you know Adelaide opened the Beatles Aussie tour season.  As it turned out they got the biggest reception they ever got anywhere in the world, 250,000 people turned out to see the Beatles at the Adelaide Town hall  reception. 

Oh my  God John there was a moment in that concert I will never forget! There was a support group called 'Sounds Incorporated' and when they finished their set they walked off the stage and Bob Francis, who compared the concert walked out and stood centre stage with his hands behind his back....he just stood their like an Egyptian mummy.....he never said a word, just looked out over the audience.  One by one all the lights in the venue (Centennial Hall) went out and after a while we all wondered what was going on, the noise died down to the point where you could have heard a mouse fart. Finally there was just this one spotlight that shone on the skin of the base drum with 'Sounds Incorporated' written across it.

When all was quiet Big Bob slowly turned and walked across to that drum and peeled the skin off and on the skin underneath was....The Beatles! My god , the whole auditorium just erupted, this was it, we were about to see the Beatles!!!

The girl I was going out with at the time entered a radio competition to meet the Beatles and she was one of the 25 successful winners, so as the concert was drawing to a close we, the chosen ones, were ushered over towards a side stage door and we got to meet the Beatles. In fact we got to meet 3/4 of the Beatles! Ringo Starr could not make it to Adelaide and we had a stand in drummer by the name of Jimmy Nicoll.......But John  we got to shake hands and talk with John, Paul and George and the thing that struck me was....they were just regular guys like we were! They could have been our friends, we were all the same age, they were just great humans. I still have their personal autographs here, if you are interested I will post them in a DM for you!

The beauty of age is, you get to experience lots of things in your life, and meeting the Beatles was one of my highlights!

Cheers.......Rob 

[Melodie-And-John0]

thats awesome @Robin4 , what a memory that makes and the autographs are the bomb!   I suspect most of them start out like regular folks but turn into exactly what we make them, prim donnas.  Stay well, JR  

[Robin4]

@Melodie-And-John0 

John, this COVID-19 business is creating havoc around the world at the moment, but it won't last forever! When international travel to this country is allowed again I would love to show you why I get such a kick out of hosting. I would love to show you where the best wine in the world comes from, I would love to take you on a river houseboat for a few days with a spot of fishing and water skiing, I would love to take you into the outback and let you to read a book by starlight alone!  

I would love to show you what makes this a pretty special part of the world John!

Lets  work on a catch-up where we can exchange a few tall tales and a few great experiences, hey! 

Cheers.......Rob 

[Melodie-And-John0]

@Robin4 , that sounds like a great adventure Rob and I'm sure it would be a trip to remember sans none, and the chats and discussions we would have would be awesome.   Australia is actually one of the places I have imagined I would really like to see before i kick the can, I will definitely keep your  wonderful offer in my safe for a time when I can act like a normal human again, thank you Mate!   Stay well, JR

[Inna22]

@Robin4 what a great story! I want to be you! Many many years ago I sneaked into a concert of one of my favorite bands through the back door. I was a teenager with no money and no access to tickets plus, I admit, it was kind of fun to get in that way. As I was making my way to the front, I ran into the actual band! They signed a little scrap of paper for me and later I just threw it out! I didn’t know what to do with it. So silly.

[Robin4]

@Inna22 

Ade says I am a terrible hoarder.....I never throw anything out that I think could be potentially useful!

In my mancave there is something of every aspect of my life, from the traps I used to set to catch foxes as a 10-12 year old, to a display box I built to show all the old mobile phones I have had. You can see it on the wall by the workshop door......

 The only phone I could not find was the first one I bought back in September 1987.

It was called a Mobiletronics  'Pocket phone' ! But it was anything but pocket, it was huge and powered by a 12 volt battery pack that fixed to the bottom of it. It became known as the Mobiletronics 'brick'.

As I have lost it along the way I decided, what better way to remember it than with a real brick....so that's what I used!

Guests will often spend hours in here looking at all the old junk I could not bring myself to throw away!

Cheers.......Rob 

@Melodie-And-John0 

[Sarah977]

I have these visions of my girls going through my stuff when I die and saying to each other "OMG, can you believe Mom kept this? It was POS 40 years ago and it's an even bigger POS now. Dump pile".

@Robin4 

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Sarah977 

My mom says the same thing all the time 😂 🤣 😁 

@Robin4 

I remember seeing old cell phones, their old home phone (they don't have a landline in their current apartment), my sister's old portable CD player and cassette player in a drawer when I was looking for paper clips in my dad's office. And I'm pretty sure they didn't throw out the old VHR and it's somewhere with a box of our old video cassette movie collection. 😂 😂 😂