Living as we do, close to lakes, beaches, orchards and vineyards, it is no wonder that we get occasional unwanted visitors. These are the two legged varieties who land on your doorstep expecting free accommodation while they enjoy the Okanagan sunshine.
These people were not particular friends in your old neighbourhood but acquaintances or friends of friends who remembered you have a spare room and are pretty easy going. This is one of the drawbacks of living in paradise.
When we first came to Oliver, it was to buy a small motel and campground, when family arrived, we gave them a room as our living quarters were tiny, when the weather was good they camped in our family tent trailer. However, what do you do when other people turn up and expect free room and board?
Our motel had seven rooms so to give one away for even a couple of nights was a big loss of income. Dave’s father came often but usually in the off season so no problems there, however, he used to tell his friends back on the coast that it was his business, that we were just managing it, and that they could get a free room any time. Unfortunately, this wasn’t so and caused a few embarrassing moments.
The first summer here we had all sorts of people dropping in to say hello, join us for tea and then ask if we had room for the night. Before we had moved here, Dave and I agreed that anyone who we would not normally have invited to stay in our guest room, in our old home, would not be given a free room. However, Dave would make himself scarce and I would have to break the news to our new “best buddies”. I did this by inviting them into the office and giving them a registration card to fill in. I would know immediately, by the look on their face, that they had expected complimentary rooms.
Sometimes they would mask their surprise and fill in the card and pay the going rate, others would decide that maybe they would move on to another destination. If people were visiting in a camper and asked to stay, we would offer them a small campsite free or give them the choice of paying for a large, fully serviced site. Most of these people never came back once they saw that freebies were not part of the deal. Obviously, not real friends.
Why would people think that, because you live in a holiday destination, you want comparative strangers staying with you?
I had a friend write to me, from England, to ask if her teenage son could stay for the summer and find a job in the area. Having raised four kids of my own and enjoying being childless for the first time in 25 years, I had no problem saying no to a boy I had never even met.
Another friend, on the coast, phoned to ask if their son could stay for a year and attend school in Kamloops. This was a good friend who I didn’t want to offend, but was lucky enough to point out that it was not a daily commute to Kamloops. Later, when I had time to think, I was rather annoyed at her for putting me in the position of having to say no, she should never have asked for such an imposition so why did I feel bad?
The other unwanted visitors I have to cope with have more than two legs! The beautiful countryside that surrounds our home is a haven for all sorts of creatures that I prefer live outdoors.
Having brought up the aforementioned four daughters, I was used to the frequent screams that unwanted visitors caused. The piercing shriek that a spider in the bathtub caused probably made the neighbours think we had a serial killer in the house. I would march down the hall to fend off the monster, to find a tiny critter lurking in the tub. A trembling teenager, wrapped only in a bath towel would be standing on the toilet, away from harm. Armed with an empty glass and a piece of paper, I would catch the offender and release it out into the yard. I haven’t thought to ask, but these same screamers are all moms and must now be battling the same sort of attackers of their own kids.
Our cat loves to catch mice and bring them in the house to share with me. Once I hear her arrival, announced by a weird throat noise, I know she has a mouthful of something furry. I grab the cat by the back of her neck and take hold of the tail of the captive mouse. The cat lets go, the mouse is held by the tail and I return it to the safety of the orchard next door. If it is stupid enough to come back in the yard and get eaten, it is not my fault.
A bird in the house is cause for a gala celebration as both dogs get into the excitement of the action. Said cat will bring home her trophy and lay it on the floor. Before I can grab it the bird takes flight bounces, in panic, between various windows and finally settles somewhere. If I can get to it before various sets of gnashing teeth can attack it, it has a good chance of survival.
I love my home and enjoy occasional visitors for coffee and conversation, but prefer that uninvited visitors take the hint and don’t linger too long! I have a sign on the front porch that reads “Bienvenidos a su Casa” (welcome to our home), maybe I should change it to one that says “No Loitering”.