We are home at last. Despite our goals to stay put for a while, it’s not to be so steady until the end of February, but at least we are around the area and at home for longer periods. M should be actually at home more than me, which is good for both of us! π
Since I am not one to leave unpacking or cleaning up until later, we spent the first afternoon dividing and conquering. Christmas decorations needed to be put away, suitcases unpacked, and, unfortunately, kitchen cleaned and reorganized, along with the mounds of laundry – not just from us but sheets and towels left by our guests.
While I cannot reasonably complain about the difference in cleanliness and houseguest standards, I feel this is a necessary vent since it is my space here to do whatever I want, right?! π€ͺ
We had two lots of guests over the Christmas and post-Christmas into the new year period. They took care of our pets in exchange for a free stay in our home. In general, we are pretty free-minded and open with our things for, after all, they are just things. However, I forget that my expectation that the house will be left as it was when they arrived – clean, objects in the same space, etc. – is always a set up for disappointment…. π£
Now, I admit that I am rather stubborn, and possibly obsessive, about my organization and level of cleanliness. However, I am also very conscientious about other people’s possessions. I respect the fact that they had to work to get the money to buy the things they have. Therefore, I treat their things and space as I would my own. The difference is that people treat their own things at different levels than I, and this carries over in how they treat mine/ours. Furthermore, because I have a reason for why things are located where they are in my own home, I try to remember where I get items from in someone else’s house. Strangely, or not, this doesn’t seem to apply for others.
In the grand scheme of things, it is not important nor worth this much thought even in a blog post. Yet, I am a deep-thinker, philosopher, observer of society, and participant in this world. So, I cannot help myself from pondering on the theoretical and social norms, especially when I feel as if I am the only one who is then considered “abnormal”.
Is it a matter of respect? Is it a matter of just not being aware? Is it a lack of caring? What is it…?
I imagine that if I were to ask these people directly, I would get an answer something like We just felt so comfortable that we made it like our home. Or, You’re always so kind that we didn’t think it would matter. Or, You should have just told us. So sorry. While these would all be valid comments, they aren’t enough for me because I believe that it stems from something deeper.
Probably, I’m just pondering over nothing. Probably, it’s not that important. Probably, no harm no foul is the way to go. Probably.
Still, my point to anyone who reads this is that just because things aren’t important to you, being in someone else’s home isn’t about YOU. While you may be someone who doesn’t mind unpacking slowly over a week or some unknown period of time, or perhaps you don’t notice or mind a bit of unclean spaces, it is valuable to understand who your host is – especially if you’re friends and/or have visited multiple times before.
Truly, there is nothing more frustrating than having to spend hours cleaning and reorganizing along with days of laundry when returning from travels. It’s not important that the trip was one of luxury and relaxation. It IS important that this is not your home and would you really want to have to come home from traveling and spend days trying to get things back to how you would like it to be?
I think not probably, but rather definitely!
So, the next time you’re a guest in someone’s home. Leave it as clean, or even cleaner than when you arrived! Make sure you have enough time to do the sheets and towels before you leave (find a nearby laundromat if you have to!). Make sure that if you moved things around, you return it to where you found it (take a picture before you move it!). Theses are my wishes.
And, if you read this and are visiting me, take notes! π¬π
~T π₯πβοΈ
