Smokers are still socially active around here. I myself have people come to my smoking home, and we either "potluck" or chip in on the themed dinner that is prepared. Now it does help that I have acres of property, and it also helps that everyone in the group "takes turns" at doing this, and invites a few "new" people most times.

When you aren't accommodated, you make your own version of what you think is hospitality. Whether its everyone staying the night once they arrive, drive everyone home, or its making sure that people have the ability to get a cab. The people are accommodated, and hospitality is dispensed.

I've "managed" rather well; the oriental themed dinner and the lanterns around the back patio went well, and then sitting out with the fire pit going in the spring (cherry blossom season) was just great fun.

This week it looks like I will only have over 30 people at my house for a whole weekend affair (which of course won't have a theme but I think camping close to home is rather cool anyways!).

Oh its tough when you actually have control over who gets to hang around you! Although if the extremists want to make themselves think that they are harming my social life, let them think that. Just don't tell them they are liars--they think that they are destroying everyone's habits). They don't like to be given examples where the "denormalization" hasn't worked (everyone's partying & happy), and they lost control over peoples habits.

Why do you think right now it's the kitchen that is the most remodeled part of the home? People are realizing that their 90's kitchens just don't cut it in having more than the family around. They were all small, no connection to the food; now most have added a "family room" that is like an informal bar section in days gone by (when you went to the restaurants).

BTW I was talking about this to lady at the grocery store, and she mentioned this "social circle" idea as well. Let the people who don't want the word accommodation to be mentioned attend bars that are really busy for only 3 hours, and filled with strange people who have already been drinking.

Need more examples?? I can continue, if you enjoy, I'm accommodating! LOL

Just imagine yourself a party planner. What is the great topic going on this week?

Down south is having fun with the anti's. Well you support them in spirit, and have a potluck of "picnics in the park". Serve southern fried chicken, etc and give everyone a blanket to take home. (blanket is a square of fabric that has the edges serged- you could make the square an inch or big enough to actually sit on.) Now You must specify that there's 4 people on each "blanket", and order in order out. That way you don't know who your sitting with. Since the south showed you what hospitality was, why not just write a letter to the editor of a paper and let then hear the twist to the local extremist?

How about a starlight night at the movies? Anyone have a white house, or large TV? Why not take everything (the party) outside, for a big game or movie that is a romantic classic, thriller, or how about the new "great thing" that is just released? People bring their own chairs, or blankets to sit on, and you provide the entertainment.

Do you know of any place that you have been thinking of going to? (I have a bike trail in my area that all the tourists hit!) I was thinking of inviting everyone for the afternoon, to go together and do our very own "tour bus" harassing of the "locals".