He won’t take cash, that’s why. Just the kind of guy he is. He’s gonna be taking care of my cat for a week while I’m on vacation.
Thought about a couple cases of his favorite beer. Still might do that. Any other ideas?
Well, the neighbor might not accept a gift from you…but will he accept a small token and a card from the cat?
If his personality fits that vibe, then that’s what I would do: Make a thank you card from the cat, signed and everything. Go all out with construction paper and crayons, possibly make it multiple pages if not a small pamphlet. (Cats are very thorough)
The time spent will show him your intended appreciation.
Then if you still want to get a gift to go with it (totally valid, i would!) you will want to get him some nice version of something he loves: bottle of booze, some fancy chocolates, whatever. Stalk his social media or ask his partner if he has one, to get ideas of what he’s in to.
I think this is a smashing idea. Well done!
Would also go for selfmade food, or maybe a voucher for his favorite restaurant or pizza place.
A card that says “thanks for cat sitting.” You can get as creative as you want, he can put it up, and it shows that you see him. I personally would like to have that on my fridge to be reminded of that time.
I’m ovethinking here, but often times beer etc. feels kinda annoying. It appears like you just felt obliged to give something in return. Which makes it not an instance of appreciation: Cultural norms are forcing me to gift something to you. Cultural norms say men like beer. Here ist beer.
OP said his favorite beer, if OP knows what his favorite beer is and thought it might make a good gift, OP may have context that tells them the neighbor enjoys beer. If someone got me a favorite beer of mine after I did them a favor I would really appreciate it. I would insist it wasn’t necessary but I would graciously accept the gift and appreciate it.
True that. Like it shows that you put more thought in it.
One of the best things I have learned to do as a way to influence people and make friends is making cookies.
I am the kind of guy who doesn’t take cash either. I do shit like that for my neighborhood to build community.
Be a good neighbor, keep your mess out of his life and reciprocate if he asks for help.
Thought about a couple cases of his favorite beer. Still might do that. Any other ideas?
Consumables that the person already likes make great gifts, since they will get used up and not sit around.
I usually avoid abusable substances, just in case the person has a carefully balanced relationship with that substance.
But you know your friend.
Sometimes I just ask first. No real reason this needs to be a surprise.
“I know you said you won’t take cash, but I’m going to grab you two cases of X as a thank you, on my way back.”
Then they get a chance to call me off, or redirect me if it would be a problem.
And I’ll always let them call it off with even a mild “no thanks”, since they might not want to say to me “I have a real problem with X and I can’t safely have thay much on hand.”.
If you think think alcohol is his thing, then I’d get him a nice bottle of scotch over a larger amount of something cheaper. He’ll remember the best scotch he’s ever had for a long time, while just more beer is going to be forgotten.
If he objects to you purchasing items for him - and that I understand - I highly recommend a home baked item, personally decorated to celebrate his time taking care of your beloved cat. I’m betting he’ll like your appreciation more than the value of a gift, and that’s a delicious way to show it.
If he is the kind of person who send pictures of him and your cat while youre away, have a small one printed and framed and gift it to him with a hand written thank you.
All right, I’m sold, I’ll cat sit for you.
Consumable souvenir from wherever you’re going is an obvious choice. If you’re any good at cooking/baking, something homemade is also a good choice (and much harder for him to turn down).
Cheese. everyone loves cheese
I’ll take some rosey goat, goat cheese rolled and covered in rosemary.
I house/petsit often and usually receive cash or beer but I would ten thousand percent accept cheese.
Yes Wallace
If people can’t, or don’t enjoy receiving money as gift, I always recommend giving people experiences.
Do something for them that they can’t, won’t, or don’t even know about doing.
Oral.
As an experience is generally well given and received
Framed picture of your cat
This is the answer.
Cases of a favorite beer sounds like a good idea! My mom always urged some kind of consumable as a gift in these situations. Consider if there’s anything unique to where you’re going (e.g. if I went to Hawaii, I’d bring back a Kona blend coffee).
I once heard a story about a video editor who wouldn’t take money, so the guy who ran the YouTube channel (black pants legion) sent him cases of cured meats until he accepted the money instead.
If he’s the type of guy that doesn’t expect repayment and did it out of the kindness in his heart, you can reciprocate by doing the same. Let him know you owe him one, and make sure sure it’s received that you’re serious and not just something “you say”.
When your time comes to do something for him, do you expect payment? Or for him to grovel?
Yeah, and I would add that even if OP does get a small token of appreciation for their neighbour, but it would be good to emphasise that OP doesn’t feel like the gift has paid their neighbour back for their help, but just a little extra, and that the neighbour should let OP know in future if there’s any way for them to help out.
I say this as someone who often explicitly prefers to not be paid back for kindnesses done unto others. I’d prefer someone to pay me back in kindness in the future. After all, if I’m in a position to help someone out, then it’s likely that I’m not in particular need of receiving extra kindness at that point in time. However, if I remain friends with someone for long enough, inevitably our positions will end up being reversed at some point. It’s nice to feel like I’m a part of a dynamic little equilibrium.
And if there never comes an opportunity to pay me back, then paying it forward works for me too. None of us can escape living under late stage capitalism, but small acts of community building feel like a hint of an escape
This summer we let the neighbors park in our driveway since there is currently construction on our street. They’ve dropped off brownies, cupcakes, and a freshly rolled joint as thank you. And if you’re wondering, they were just regular brownies and cupcakes.
How was the joint?
On par with what I would roll myself.
I actually didn’t know that they smoked, or that they knew we did, so it was also a kind of wink wink message.
