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Comment by farrelle25

5 hours ago

> “Humans are far more decent than they believe they are, ..."

I did a 3-month walking pilgrimage in Belgium & France this summer. I had very little money and a tent and walked along quiet roads. Several people offered me a room for the night. (I was surprised, I don't know if I'd offer a stranger that) Many came out with food, snacks, fruit when they saw me resting near a church etc.

I used an app as well that allows camping in someone's garden ("Welcome to my Garden"). A few times I arrived to setup my tent and the owner had to leave for an appointment/event. They left me the keys to their house and told me to make myself at home until they returned(!)

6 comments

farrelle25

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consp  4 hours ago

Where my parents live they leave the door unlocked, easily invite people in and there is strong social cohesion. Where I live that's invalidating your home insurance since it's "asking to be robbed" and people don't talk to each other or report crimes.

Difference between the countryside and the city I guess.

  • Lerc  11 minutes ago

    When you say leave the door unlocked, do you mean while you are in the house or away?

    I encountered this when someone was talking about where I live as being the kind of place where you could leave the door unlocked. Everyone thought that seemed overstating it because you'd only really do that if you were going out for a few minutes. We were quite shocked to hear they were talking about locking the doors while they were home. None of us had even considered that as a meaning even though it was the norm for where they came from.

  • roody15  18 minutes ago

    Exactly live in rural Midwest. Most vehicles and houses are left unlocked 24 / 7. If you forget you wallet you can still buy things and just come back later to pay. Don’t get me wrong lots of problems in the rural parts but something about how people relate does feel more human or natural IMO.

thaufeki  2 hours ago

Funny to see someone here who did something similar! I walked a 90 day pilgrimage from Canterbury to Rome last year, had the same sort of experience.

I did meet a young French man when I was in Italy who was on a providence pilgrimage on his bike, cycling about 150km a day with no plans of where to stay, he would show up in a village or town and just begin knocking on doors and asking people if he could stay the night. He told me he always got a place and was even offered a meal many times, and his hosts were often delighted to have his company.

The story inspired me, but I'm still not brave enough to try it myself. The idea is to trust completely on the providence of God in the form of your fellow man, very romantic idea. I've often thought how the sterile transaction of cash entitles me to privacy wherever I go, its attractive but lifeless.