The House Tour

Why do people give full tours of their homes? I was thinking about this tonight, and I'm lost. My wife and I have people over just like the next couple, but we only display the living room, kitchen, and bathroom to our guests. There is no gesturing and explaining about what the rooms are for or what they do. It is not perfunctory -- it is obvious where the bathroom is, so go use it if you must. We make no gestures toward the hallway or the kids' rooms, the basement, or our bedroom. In fact, our bedroom is where all the stuff we live with is hidden.

And yet, many people feel led to show their first-time guests every nook and cranny of their house. Why? Or does this never happen anymore because it's a thing of the past that I've merged with the present? I can see a new house and you've just moved in, or show your parents or other family... but why, otherwise? And why explain? It's a house, for Pete's sakes -- one peek in a room and you know what that room's all about! What more is there to say?

I guess if I had a lot of things: pool table, stuffed head on the wall, art, a third refrigerator, a fancy new TV, I might be inclined to share a narrative of why I have the item, or how I acquired it, but that would just be to fill the emptiness with someone I didn't know well -- or it would be to boast.

Hmmm.