Picture this. The year is 1975. You’re watching The Jeffersons as a family. Suddenly, there’s a random knock on the door. Without any thought of ‘who could that be?’ like you might have today, you go to the door, and it’s your next door neighbor. Or a family friend! Or a relative from an hour away. You immediately invite them in for a coffee and some snacks. You laugh the day away with this unexpected, but much appreciated company.
No one’s thinking “why didn’t they call me beforehand” or “why did they show up announced,” because, as you know first hand if you lived in a non-digital age, unannounced visits were completely in the norm!
Let’s reflect on the unannounced visits that made community & family ties that much closer back in the day, and explore what shifted over the years to make this a monument to simpler times and no longer a modern fixture.
Did People Really Used to Go To Each Other’s Houses Unannounced?
As strange as it might feel in an era of cell phones and on-the-go people, the answer is yes! Up until the ‘90s and 2000s, it was completely normal for friends and family members to stop by unannounced.
After a quick knock on the door, if someone was home, unexpected guests would often get the V.I.P. treatment, filled with drinks, snacks, and lots of laughter.
It was a special thing. People didn’t mind the extra-company, and it fostered closer relationships with neighbors, family, and friends, who were far more open to socializing than we are today with our cell phones and busy schedules.
Why Did People Stop Visiting Each Other Unexpectedly?
As cell phones and technology became more commonplace and instant communication with anyone, anytime became the norm, people would start to give people a call or send a “what are you up to” text instead of coming by unannounced.
Today, a random knock on the door might result in a “who is that? I wasn’t expecting anyone” thought. To see a friend or neighbor pop by without first asking would be considered rude.
While it’s nice to have a heads up, this constant digital communication has resulted in a more fragmented, isolated society in real-life.
Remembering Friendlier, More Community Driven Times
It was a more meaningful approach to friendship when you could just pop over to a friend’s without a text, or a calendar invite, or a reminder notification. It was a more genuine, simpler approach to hanging out. Those unannounced visits weren’t just about saying ‘hi’, they were a way to check in on the people that matter to you, and to let them know you cared.
It kept old memories and stories alive through in person communications, and acted as a means to forge new ones. In an era filled with memes and DMs in the place of what used to be genuine human connection, there’s something we can learn from those times.
Leveraging the Internet to Still Foster In-Person Relationships
There’s no denying though, that online communications can keep real-life connections going. That old neighbor that used to walk over in minutes might be across the country now. Use Classmates® to find and reach out to old friends.
Even if you can’t show up at their doorstep without a heads up, you can foster old friendships and reflect on those good old days where new memories were just a knock away. Get started for free!
Unannounced Visit FAQs
When Did People Used to Stop By Unannounced?
While it became abnormal for people to stop by unannounced in the 90s and 2000s, in the ‘80s (and especially earlier decades) people used to stop by with no forewarning all the time.
What Occasions Would People Stop By Without a Warning?
In the 1970s and previous decades, people would often pop over on Sundays or holidays like Christmas and Easter completely unannounced. Families with kids would often be the ‘visited’ people, while relatives and friends without young children would be out on the road visiting their loved ones.
What Happened If No One Was Home?
There were even traditions at those times for unexpected visitors to let their friends or family members know they stopped by.
As explained by author Jerry Stratton who reflected on the lost art of unplanned visits:
“There was even a system for letting people know you’d been there when they were out. We had a bird-house-like box nailed to the wall next to the door. It had a pencil and notepaper, and a rotating disk with a rooster engraved on it. Underneath, it read ‘Leave a note if you don’t find us, tilt the rooster to remind us.’ You left a note and turned the rooster so that we’d know there was a note.”
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