Post #176684 by Humuhumu on Tue, Aug 2, 2005 5:08 PM

Some of us are very, very lucky, and have spouses and family who get "the whole tiki thing." (I'm unusually lucky -- when we're on the way out the door and I'm wanting another 5 minutes on the computer to wrap up a post, all I have to say is "there's this guy, he made this cool website about tiki, it's just a little addictive....")

But I know how frustrating it can be when you're out as the spouse in a setting where you don't feel like you belong, where everyone seems to have their own language and inside jokes.

Furthermore, I know just how good the Tiki crowd can be at making people feel welcome.

I'd like to propose a special event that is totally geared toward bringing out the non-tiki better halves and families. Ways I'm thinking we can make an effort to welcome these folks during this special event:

• Be inclusive, giving backstory when talking tiki
• Make an effort to ask about the sig others' interests
• Go a little easy on the drinking
• Choose a location that's tiki-friendly but a little low on the in-your-face-kitsch scale (Damon's? Trader Vic's?)

If nothing else, non-tiki significant others might find that they have common interests with other non-tiki significant others, and might be more excited about coming out more regularly. Who knows?

Of course, anyone who has an interest in spreading the aloha should come and join us -- the idea here isn't to have a couples' night or a family night, but rather to put our best foot forward as a group in making these people feel welcome.

I'm thinking this would happen early evening on a Saturday, perhaps in early September? Chime in if you're interested!