As people visit, they begin to think about things to bring home. Presents for friends, presents for themselves, artworks and memories. Inevitably the conundra (don’t know if this is actually the plural of conundrum…) of packing space and cash outlay rear their ugly heads and people begin “trimming” their list of “must-buys”.
Another inevitability is that, when they get home, they realize that they do not have enough things for everyone, or they have to give away EVERYTHING and have nothing left for themselves. There are e-mails and requests for the next friend to bring home more stuff for them, etc.
This occurred recently, and below is Jack’s response. Although directed at a particular event, I think it is a good lesson for travel and attempting to “gift” appropriately.
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Let this be a lesson to the ladies:
BUY MORE SCARVES.
Seriously. They make great gifts, they pack REALLY small and they are relatively inexpensive.
I will share some of our gift giving secrets:
When we returned we had a bunch of people we wanted to buy gifts for.
We divided recipients and gifts into groups
A group:
These were specific people that we wanted to buy specific items for.
“I want to give Bob a [blah] and Mary a [widget]. We bought those specific items
B group:
These were people that we wanted to give something to, but we didn’t have specific gifts in mind. We counted em up. How many women, how many men, how many childrens.
Then went shopping.
Bought so many male appropriate gifts, etc. Then assigned gift to person.
C group:
This was group of “gifts” with no names. Extra scraves. Key chains.
Some gag (really hideous Nefertiti cigarette lighters) etc.
This was for the time when we went somewhere and bumped into someone
we had forgotten about and said “Hey! Good to see you. We got you this
[pull out something] scarf!”
Indispensible!
We have a VERY large list of people to buy for though, so this method may not apply
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I will add to this, a mantra that Jack has instilled in me since our first “Big Trip” in 1999 –
ALWAYS BUY TWO.
I have a habit of seeing something that I want to get for a friend [and (not so) secretly for myself as well] and then when the time comes, I am either (1) extremely bummed to give it away or (2) I don’t give it away.
ALWAYS BUY EXTRA
Something else to think about, even when you’ve purchased something for everyone including two for yourself… if the item is cheap, like $1-$2 each, get another $20 worth. Someday in the future, you will need a hostess gift or maybe an item for an Xmas Pollyanna at work, or perhaps something for a kid’s teacher. Having a trove of inexpensive yet unobtainable (or VERY expensive) gifts is always a bonus.
For example, I bought dozens of silk scarves in the market in Seoul for less than $2 each. These items sell for $50 in the airport and $200 in upscale department stores in the USA. Recipients are always THRILLED.
Whatever is made or sold locally that’s ubiquitous and inexpensive (without being cheap) and yet useful or beautiful, buy LOTS of extras.
Oh… and kid’s toys. It’s always nice to have a little something that cost you a buck or two at the ready, to pull out to keep some crumb-snatcher entertained, allowing you and a friend to have a few moments of uninterrupted adult conversation. Score points by letting the curtain-climber take it home when they leave.
– Flash