I've gone on a few of these long distance kettle voyages recently and have had time to think while on the road. I like doing it, sometimes for other people, usually just for me, but can't necessarily sustain it.
On this one I got to thinking about how last time, I saved $10 when the seller offered to take $40 instead of the $50 he was asking. (I gave him 3 twenties and asked for change, which he didn't have in his pocket.) And even though there was no such "discount" on the M-T i picked up yesterday, I still rationalized that I can easily blow $10 or $20 on stupid shit anywhere, so why not just toss this stranger some swag for no reason at all in case he makes use of it?
And I freely admit to romanticizing the notion of the lone eagle out there, with no help, just his gear and some food and the hopes of making a few bucks with his grill.
I do think that the gifts we bestow "with strings attached" are no gifts at all, and of course I have no idea if he'll use what I gave him or if he'll exchange it for store credit. Nor do I suppose I care!
Conversing with the other person was just a in-the-moment vibe that existed.