On Sat, 2 Mar 2013 10:11:41 -0800, "Cheri" >
wrote:

>"Brooklyn1" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Sat, 2 Mar 2013 07:01:10 -0800, "Cheri" >
>> wrote:
>>
> wrote in message
...
>>>> On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 08:27:16 -0500, jmcquown >
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>On 3/1/2013 3:48 PM, wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am old enough to recall when guests came first.
>>>>>> Drop-ins might have been unexpected, but never unwanted or unwelcome.
>>>>>> The family made accommodations as if they had been invited -- even if
>>>>>> guests got most of the meal or the children of the household ate
>>>>>> peanut
>>>>>> butter sandwiches.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Nowadays the family's schedule comes first, and drop-ins might not
>>>>>> even
>>>>>> be invited in for a brief chat and coffee. Calling first does not mean
>>>>>> they will be welcome either.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> While I'd like to agree with Miss Manners, I suspect that what the
>>>>>> writer
>>>>>> meant was that he/she lived in a rural area where few people had
>>>>>> phones
>>>>> > - maybe in the 1950s? - and that kids, unlike now, were expected to
>>>>> > make
>>>>> > sacrifices for adults all the time, so it would have been considered
>>>>> > rude
>>>>> > for the "hosts" to make the "guests" eat the PBJ sandwiches instead.
>>>>>I only
>>>>> > wish MM had not ignored that possibility; it would have made for a
>>>>> > more
>>>>> > interesting explanation of how and why times change.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Lenona.
>>>>>>
>>>>>(attempted to "fix" the GoogleGroups line-wrap crap, hopefully)
>>>>>
>>>>>It doesn't really matter why things have changed, does it? Fact is,
>>>>>they have. This *isn't* the 1950's. IMHO it's rude to show up
>>>>>unannounced (*especially* around dinner time). I don't consider people
>>>>>like that "guests".
>>>>>
>>>>>Jill
>>>>
>>>> i say 'freezer' !!! i love people to drop in, friends or family - i
>>>> have dishes in the freezer i can nuke to unfreeze then bake or
>>>> whatever.
>>>>
>>>> what greater joy than sharing food together ?
>>>>
>>>> (sorry about lack of caps but hand is casted for next 3 weeks)
>>>
>>>
>>>A greater joy to me is knowing they're coming so I can plan something
>>>special, but I don't really keep already prepared meals in the freezer, so
>>>they'd be out of luck waiting for the roast to defrost.
>>>
>>>Cheri
>>
>> I can instantly shift to one of several menus that are easy to prepare
>> a larger amount quickly... I always have lots of eggs (and Spam),
>> pasta/rice, and sauces that can stretch a meal. I keep enough
>> groceries on hand in case a military helicopter has to make an
>> emergency landing in my yard... don't you own a can opener... and
>> nowadays canned beans are in pull top tins.
>
>
>Do you have lots of drop in guests where you live? Seeing the pictures it
>seems pretty isolated, but I do know that you keep a nice freezer full of
>tasty things. I don't like drop in guests at all though, so don't really
>worry about it much and certainly don't prepare for them.

Depends what you mean by "lots". I get someone dropping in at least
once a month but rarely requires a meal. People in rural areas will
go out to walk their dog and if they see someone outside they will
stop to chat, it's only good manners to offer something to eat and/or
drink. In nice weather folks don't come inside, would hang out for a
bit in the driveway or sit on the deck. I don't mind at all if
someone stops by, how else will I learn the local gossip....