You're fine! Funny, but when we wear our cowboy hats, seems like everyone we talk to asks us, "you from Texas"? Like Texas is the only state where folks wear cowboy hats. It can be hard to know what I'd say to the "howdy cowboy" statement. Possibly it can depend on what the person is wearing. IOW, wearing normal western attire (nothing flashy) and a rodeo trophy buckle, I'd feel good about it. I've never had it happen to me, the "howdy cowboy" thing. However, when wife and I were at Bellagio Hotel/Casino, right before Christmas, to see their Christmas decorated room, she got three great comments about her black felt cowboy hat and western attire.
Most folks can tell the difference between "big city" folks and current or former rodeo/farm/ranch folks. However, during the summer months, wife and I are in shorts, tennis or walking shoes and a short-sleeve shirt. If we decide to go out to dinner in western attire, we will do that. What I already knew, from my years in professional rodeo before meeting my wife, and what both wife and I have notice during our 24 years of marriage, rodeo/farm/ranch folks can be, and most likely are, much friendlier than other folks. But, that's what we've encountered at many rodeos or other "western" related events we've been to or fans of rodeo/western lifestyle we've met.
I guess I am not most folks, because I can't tell the difference between country or big city, current or former, by what they are wearing or how friendly they are. Nothing I wear or have for years, would indicate I was either. I have met many very nice people, both big city and country. It seems this forum has some really nice people, both big city and country. I was just curious how you can tell the difference just by scanning a crowd or seeing folks in a restaurant? I can't, but maybe I just don't have the gift.
Silver, we have both learned how to do it (scanning a crowd and determining). However, it also depends on where a person lives.
Oh, OK. It depends on where one lives. That was close! I was afraid I was going to have to tell BB, based on how he dresses these days, that he has become a big city type. Anyway, glad to hear you and wife have passion for the country way, even though big city living is also your thing. Both worlds have glamour and also have ugliness. Returning to the topic, I am not as friendly as I once was. I have been used way too many times by seemingly friendly people, both city and country. We no longer live in a world where a verbal agreement and hand shake mean anything. As I age, I find myself less tolerant of people with motives.
Many people have lost self-respect, they don't mind asking or even insisting you give to them. When I was young to beg was the worst thing you could do. Although some like my friend and I took it too far. Our whole culture has changed.
Well, folks, I will continue to be friendly, however, not towards everyone. I can pretty much tell the people that I don't want to be friendly with, as does my wife. IOW, we are picky about who to be friends with and we both like that trait in us.
Ain't that the truth! I have become cynical, skeptical, and a bit cranky at times with people and the world. But I still consider myself a nice person.
I think that is what most of us do. There are definitely people that I see or meet that i enjoy talking with, and some that I do not want to speak to at all, if they make me uncomfortable. People in small towns are almost always friendlier than people who live in cities. In Idaho, we waved at passing vehicles when we were out riding the horses, and said hello to the cashier in the grocery store all the time. If you went off the road, or had car trouble, someone in a 4x4 would stop and pull the car back on the road, or try to help fix the car problem. When I lived closer to Seattle, no one waved at cars, or spoke to cashiers, and they didn’t say much either. You just never know what the person is thinking sometimes. I walked down to the corner store with Bobby one day, and took Poodle along for the walk, so I was waiting outside for Bobby to come back out. The next thing I knew, some strange guy was asking me if I “wanted a date” ! I know we live in an area where we have streetwalkers, but I certainly did not look like one .
How does that quip go……yeah. People think I am going crazy but the fact is, I don’t go crazy because I AM crazy but I do go normal at times.