Only 40 years dealing with the “recreating public” and I am
STILL amazed at the dearth of understanding, the lack of common sense. I had a lady asking for a rest room, pointed
to the sign on the bulletin board right next to the door that gives directions
to the rest rooms at PINECREST, just 2 miles away, provided by the US FOREST SERVICE. I also suggested that she become a CUSTOMER
at the INN across the highway – a cup of hot chocolate would do the trick - and
then she could use their facilities.
Would you stop at someone’s house while taking a walk around the
neighborhood and ask to use their facilities?
Actually I did once or twice, but I have known the homeowner for 40
years!! ;-))
Our daughter has driven across the country several times and
never uses a facility without buying SOMETHING so she is a customer of the
business that is kind enough to provide for her needs when she isn’t near a
REST STOP. Why are snow players so
clueless as to think that they should have the use of restrooms WITHOUT having
to be a customer? They also use parking
spaces that we need for our paying guests.
I have told many that if they
rented one of our cabins they would have BOTH a parking space and a restroom
facility for their use. BOY, do I get
dirty looks from them!!
Of course that 40 year friend and neighbor came home from
work one day and found a family picnicking on her deck here in our small
community of hardy mountain folk. They
tried to tell her that it was Forest Service property and they were entitled to
use it!! She didn’t have to show them
her property tax bill; she just had to phone the Sheriff and they decided to
believe her.
Church groups, high schoolers, families – if your are having a
barbecue in one of the spaces that my
husband spent HOURS clearing with his snow blower, and which is MARKED for use
of our guests, expect him to show up with a plate and a fork for a sample of
your cuisine, brochure and price list in hand!!
Most people are happy to share with him, but I draw the line at sharing
my bathroom with strangers older than
FIVE. THAT'S 2 for today - a young man, an adult, who needed a restroom - he headed across the highway!
Enjoy your time in the mountain paradise we call HOME but be respectful: be a customer, be polite, and take your trash home with you. While snow blowing just the other day my husband found a baby diaper complete with maggots and flies - YUCK! Isn't that what plastic bags were invented for? PLAN AHEAD!
