ARE PEOPLE IN THEIR 20s AND 30s STILL ABLE TO ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE??
I write this in the hope that there are people out there who can advise me.
ARE PEOPLE IN THEIR 20s AND 30s STILL ABLE TO ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE??
This is in response to an interview question from Metro Magazine when I was asked if 'standards' were rising in our B&Bs and hotels. It is the sort of question I dread, for while I know that they are rising - if 'standards' means material comfort - a large part of me suspects that babies are disappearing with the bath water.
As power showers and 'en-suite' bathrooms become more common are we losing some big, handsome bedrooms? Are prices rising inexorably because we are demanding more comfort? Are we losing those places which are a bit chaotic but gorgeous? Would young people now tolerate a cold bedroom, even if it was in a 12th-century castle of remarkable distinction?
Is there anyone who can persuade me that the vogue for camping means that there might also be a vogue for simplicity? Getting back to nature? I hope so.
posted by Alastair @ 10:33 am
8 comments
8 Comments:
Being a 30 something myself, I find that I've always preferred to slow down and enjoy simple things even when I was in my late 20’s. Karen and I live in Spain and love the beach in winter and regularly find a secluded spot to go for a walk, read a book, notice the fauna changing with the seasons, collect drift wood, build a fire (in a safe sand pit and extinguish with sea water before leaving), watch the dog chase a scent etc. Even when we go somewhere specific with an objective such as food shopping, a restaurant and (recently) golf practice we find our selves “Bumbling”.
We use the word Bumble in the context of “Ambleing with appreciation” if that makes any sense whatsoever. In fact, we were beginning to think we were the worlds original “bumblers” and had considered writing a book with a title akin to “Bumbling 101” or “The Bumblers Guide to Life” or some such whimsical title. Of course we’ll bumble for so long that it would never get to print.
Top ten bumbling destinations below in no particular order of Bumblence:
1. The fruit and veg market
2. Beach in the autumn, winter and spring (avoid summer like the plague)
3. Any Venta in the Andalusia countryside or a chiringuito (beach hut selling tapas etc on the beach)
4. The Old town in any city
5. Around the house on any chilly weekend
6. Half way through a days gardening, usually from the first coffee break onwards
7. During the fire up phase of a BBQ and after the first bottle is uncorked
8. Choosing the fish we intend on BBQ’ing that evening. There are only so many species out there to eat but we have been known to look at what’s on offer, walk away, come back again and look at it, watch the numbers dwindle, walk away again, come back and make a decision………and end up eating out anyway that evening.
9. Skiing in Sierra Nevada; yes, it’s true one can Bumble on the slopes
10. After work on a Friday and the kids are away at friends when we’re deciding what we’re going to do with ourselves for the weekend.
You’re probably thinking we’re purely indecisive but not so. We just enjoy the time together by ourselves and take note of and appreciate the simple things. We did Casas Karens once in the Cadiz Province and just loved it. We haven’t camped for many years but certainly appreciate a good old house or hotel more than we would a 5 star hotel with everything. Sure, the 5 star has its place and time but we prefer a honest clean 2 star in a village when Bumbling.
Hi Alastair, nice blog! I have started to go to a night in Bristol called Folk Tales, a beautifully atmospheric evening of stories, folk music, tea and biscuits and lots and lots of nice folk (it's always packed) in their 20s and 30s who have actively gotten on their backsides and left their warm homes and TVs all through the winter to enjoy something real, simple and a bit old-fashioned.Paula Brown x
Alastair, we hear your heartfelt plea. My take: the summer explosion of UK outdoor festivals means enough 20s and 30s want life earthy and elemental. So take heart.
Elisabeth
Dear Rob,
Bumbling is a lovely word for it, and properly includes an element of putting things off while you continue to bumble. Turning bumbling into a virtue is the next Great Step. Good luck with it... you would enjoy our new book, Go Slow England. One day we will get round to doing one about Spain.
Thanks
Alastair
I agree with the above posts - some in our generation still know how to enjoy the simple life. However, business travel has also created a small class of high-maintenance, entitled 20- and 30-somethings (at least in the U.S.)! Especially business travel to Southeast Asia, where our dollar can buy us much more than we could ever afford at home: massages, dinners at upscale restaurants, etc. Often, those extras can be bought with the leftovers from a generous corporate per diem. Some of my friends who travel for business have become so used to corporate-funded standards (first-class airfare, four-star hotels with service akin to being waited on hand and foot) that they now see those "simple things" as being below them.
Let's hear for it for beautiful, quirky places to stay and the beautiful quirky people who run them.
It's crucial that eclecticism and variety exists and is appreciated by the travelling public.
The world is out there to be experienced and different perspectives and ways to live broadens the mind and creates a more tolerant society.
Good point Alistair - you have given us great holidays - didn't realise you were from Long Ashton...I hail from Yatton!
i'm in the 30something category and for me (and my husband), the places that are the best are generally not those that look and feel like a swanky hotel. in fact, we tend to go out of our way to AVOID places like that.
'go slow england' for us was a real discovery! we are from new zealand, where camping for us in remote places is a regular occurence. finding beautiful places to stay that are on the quirky side... that is what we love.
places where the quality of the accommodations are based on how much at home we feel, are way more important to us than having slippers and fluffy bathrobes and room service at 3am!
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