Post #241779 by tekoteko on Sat, Jul 8, 2006 8:35 PM

Is it really all about the art, the collections, and the bamboo matting that we want for our walls? I hate to think that the whole beauty of TC is that it "makes it easier to find cool stuff to buy." I think that most of the people here probably enjoy getting together and having a few beverages...maybe even talking to someone who has a similar interest! Maybe if you think "tiki" (and really, can you put everything tiki related into one category...honestly it seems to me like the drinks, music, "artifacts", pictures, and most importantly, the PEOPLE, can each be seen as a freestanding thing to enjoy, and shouldn't be described by a four letter word) is going underground, it's time to ask why people get into it...Why did I get into it? Well, if you look at the whole post-war era, when the Tiki Bar phenomenon was at it's apex, there's one thing that you'll find in nearly every photograph, advertisement, and exciting new achievement of the era...Optimism! So really...everyone's not talkin about "tiki stuff" right now. But over in the events section, people are plotting grand get togethers...ranging in size from Hukilau down to the San Antonio Tiki Night last month...in fact, that was the first time the San Antonio TC group ever got together...so I'd say we're definitely on the upswing. At any rate...if people aren't posting their newest finds, or debating which Steve Crane Mug is really the best ever...or having a friendly argument over what really constitutes a dash of bitters...big deal. I guess to state it simply...it's all about the 'Ohana'...The mugs and ambience are a common preference, but my guess is you could take 4 members of TC and stick them into a truck stop in Amarillo and they'd still have a good time.

Now I need to mix a drink...

TT