I must be delusional...Is it unrealistic to think that a person could just be genuinely interested in the people that are staying at their Inn and just make conversation to show that interest? I mean, there are a lot of times that I actually feel like the guests really want to be here and like the conversation and the group ends up talking about a lot of topics!. It actually can be done without anyone feeling like they are being probed or interrogated. To be stand-off-ish or to avoid certain topics, or not engage in conversation and show genuine interest (and take a risk to ask questions of interest) seems kind of snobbish and rude.
We just had a couple stay a whole week. My hubby was gone most every morning and so it was just the three of us for breakfast. The first couple mornings, we chatted some while I served them, but I let them have their space. But after the tow days into their stay, they asked me to join them at the table. They wanted to know about all the places to visit and even found some things that we didn't know about. I may never see them again, but we had great conversations the next 5 days and we all hugged goodbye when they checked out.
We engage at the level that seems comfortable for the guests, even the ones that just stay a day or two. I choose to live like an open book and be receptive to all who stay rather than be so caught up in what is off limits. It's all about being hospitable and making folks feel welcome...and being interested in them as a person, not judging them about life choices...
Just tryin' to be real....