That makes sense. Thank you.
That makes sense. Thank you.
Blackheart
I hadn't ever thought about this...
Just curious, but how many of you have been stubbornly walking into or out of some town after giving up hitching, your back facing oncoming traffic, and STILL been picked up by some good samaritan?
If someone invited you over for dinner would you offer them money when the meal was over? Probably not...that would be kind of awkward and insulting. :-)
If I am at a hotel/hostel and they give me a ride, I pay them at the end of the ride or I even offer them X amount of dollars before the ride. If I just catch a ride from the trail, I figure if someone is stopping, they aren't doing it for money. I offer them at the end of the ride, but have never had someone take the money. If you have ever done any kind of trail magic, you know you get just as much, if not more out of giving than receiving.
Whether you think you can, or think you can't--you're right--Henry Ford; The Journey Is The Destination
Double post
Not always on the AT. I only remember sticking out my thumb one time in 850 miles. Most of the time all I had to do was arrive at the trailhead and before I could make it across the road someone had stopped and offered me a ride. If it was clear that they were in business (hostel, professional shuttle, or other service provider) I asked them how much they wanted before I got in the car.
"Thank you so much for such a delicious meal. I wish I could have helped contribute. Would you accept this as a thanks for the delicious food and the great company, and use it to help offset the costs for the next person you feed, even if you don't think it necessary?"
If I have means, I absolutely offer to contribute. I have had people refuse, but ever since I added the "pay it forward" part, people now accept. Gratitude and generosity are important to show and encourage.
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Also, if you are invited to a dinner party, you are supposed to bring wine, dessert, or whatever else the host(ess) requests. They won't demand. You are supposed to ask, "What can I bring?" after accepting the dinner party invitation.
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You show consideration for others InfamousJ. I can't imagine being a freeloader taking everyone else's resources and gratitude for granted with out showing appreciation and consideration. Amazed out how self absorbed, self centered, cranky, and inconsiderate of others we alpha humans can be.
Hitchhiking is not a dinner party. For anyone who has hitched, the exchange of money is never part of the equation, unless you want to complicate things. As many hitchhikers have mentioned in this thread, the exchange of money never occurred to us.
To echo Lone Wolf---It's just HITCHING. Gratitude for a ride comes in many unspoken forms and gratitude has nothing to do with money---either giving or receiving. When I get out of a car after a decent ride I project a good vibe towards that person---it's inevitable. Such harmony and decency is what makes hitchhiking work---not the exchange of money.
You are right that gratitude comes in different forms. But even if hitchhiking, it is still important to *express* out loud, explicitly, not just *project* internally and quietly.
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folks pick up hitchers cuz they wanna help. don't offend them by tryin' to pay