Here in NM, out on my walks around the neighborhood every day, I say either “good morning” or “hello” to everyone I pass, which varies from one to perhaps ten people per walk, 99% respond in same. It’s not fake, it’s just common courtesy to acknowledge other people. I see about half of them every day, and I know of two regulars who won’t respond, so I don’t say anything to them.
There was one guy who enthusiastically said “good morning!” every time for a couple of years, we even stopped and chatted briefly a couple of times. I didn’t see him for an entire summer, then when I saw him again he wouldn’t say hello. Then he started saying hello again, on his own. I don’t push. Some people have a lot going on.
I don’t know about “heavy eye contact is a challenge”. At about 15 feet apart, walking toward each other look to make brief eye contact and say “good morning”. By the time you’ve said the words, they’re nearly past you, and they either respond or don’t. That’s all there is to it.
If I had friends who responded to a smile and a wave with a sneer, I think we wouldn’t be friends for long.
My experience is in CO specifically and may depend on a lot more than my location. Just generalizing to try to meet the spirit of the question / story flow.
A good friend of mine who went on a similar nomadic journey settled in NM and said similar great things about it. I wish I could remember which city… one of the biggest ones?
Here in NM, out on my walks around the neighborhood every day, I say either “good morning” or “hello” to everyone I pass, which varies from one to perhaps ten people per walk, 99% respond in same. It’s not fake, it’s just common courtesy to acknowledge other people. I see about half of them every day, and I know of two regulars who won’t respond, so I don’t say anything to them.
There was one guy who enthusiastically said “good morning!” every time for a couple of years, we even stopped and chatted briefly a couple of times. I didn’t see him for an entire summer, then when I saw him again he wouldn’t say hello. Then he started saying hello again, on his own. I don’t push. Some people have a lot going on.
I don’t know about “heavy eye contact is a challenge”. At about 15 feet apart, walking toward each other look to make brief eye contact and say “good morning”. By the time you’ve said the words, they’re nearly past you, and they either respond or don’t. That’s all there is to it.
If I had friends who responded to a smile and a wave with a sneer, I think we wouldn’t be friends for long.
My experience is in CO specifically and may depend on a lot more than my location. Just generalizing to try to meet the spirit of the question / story flow.
A good friend of mine who went on a similar nomadic journey settled in NM and said similar great things about it. I wish I could remember which city… one of the biggest ones?