Posting to a list I have been part of for many years, I asked if anyone had friends or family in any of the places I was considering heading to. I named the areas, of course. I hadn’t ask for lodging, meals, or advice, specifically. I’d have welcomed any of those things and most expected some advice. A woman I don’t know replied on the list saying that my request was too broad and I clearly needed a better plan.
She wrote:
Have you done any homework on the places you might visit? Your request is exceedingly broad. The Caribbean + Central America + South America is a large portion of the globe. Perhaps you could home in on a few locations in order to make it possible to help you. (I have two careers already!)
Clearly she missed the idea that when you post to a list, it is to all and is not an appeal for every list member to reply. However, this was my response on January 8, 2012:
Hello xxx
My request is what you call “random” because the world is a huge place and opportunities abound. I didn’t ask for a travel agent. (Reread my original post, [not] below.) I don’t seek a schedule or set agenda. Have you never walked down a path, seen a pretty flower or interesting tree off to the side in the distance and impulsively walked over to look at it? Seen a highway sign for a historic site 30 miles away? Well, once you’re in any one place, you hear of other places. That’s called travel (not being a tourist). I travel.
My post was a general call out. Someone here may have a relative/friend in a beautiful or interesting place and that person might love a Mac-savvy NY/CA person to come by and do in-house help and love the idea of showing off his/her area.
Think it doesn’t happen? That’s a sad thought. I lived this before and I’m simply heading out to live it again.
I said I don’t know any of the places yet. That’s correct. I have not been. But that doesn’t mean I have not met people who have been there, have not looked at maps.
Wouldn’t it be stupid to ask, does anyone have a friend I can stay with in San Juan, Puerto Rico? What if they have a friend in the next town over? What if they have a friend who loves company but doesn’t have a spare couch? What if they know a school teacher who’d love me to visit her class and talk with the kids but can’t put me up? What a LOT of missed opportunities that would be!
Thank you for your reply, xxx, as it gave me the opportunity to perhaps open up other ideas for opportunity to others here.
Deborah