lambswool

What’s your opinion?
What is your reaction to this relationship scenario? Who was responsible, who was at fault? What should have been the correct reaction to the situation?

BACKGROUND
• 2 people A and B, frequently travel together.
• Person A operates without much concern for time management, or structure, but generally manages to be where they need to be at the appropriate times and with the proper requirements, but in general is not very rigid about managing time, or making sure anything is prepared..
• Person B generally takes on more responsibility for organizing and preparing the trip, planning the agenda and activities, as well as many activities and responsibilities while on the trip, e.g., holding the travel documents and money, also packing the needs for the day, water bottles, towels, maps, etc. and is very time conscience.
• Only very general travel agendas are planned for the overall vacation, both A and B are flexible to daily activities based on weather conditions, physical and mental attitude for a particular day, etc.
• No one has planned, discussed or consciously accepted these roles, they just morphed over time due to the different personalities.

During one particular vacation, a day is set aside for an activity of visiting a park with many things to participate in. Person A states that they are personally interested in doing a particular activity X – at the park. Person B, has no interest in the activity and is even slightly afraid of the activity X but agrees to go along the it, very reluctantly.
Activity X requires that:
• The duration of the activity will be approximately 1 hour,
• will a require a change of clothing before and after the participation
• cannot be STARTED after 4:30 in the afternoon.

A and B agreed upon the agenda for the day at the park
• breakfast will be eaten outside of the park before entering;
• All activities will be completed together.
• Activity X is to be completed by 3:30 pm
• Lunch (late) will be taken outside of the park and must be started by 4:00 (food location outside of the park, stops serving after 4:00)

Going to and from the park is about a 10-15 minute walking commute.

SITUATION:
A and B walk to the park and enter at about 11:00-11:30 a.m., and participate in several activities. Neither A or B is wearing a watch, and there are no clocks within the park. B, is carrying a tote of necessities for the day and on the outside of the bag, there is a watch strapped onto a handle of the tote.

After awhile A and B state they are getting a bit hungry. B remembers that there are a few Gummy Worms in the tote and A and B share the Gummy Worms. B looks at the watch and sees that it is about 1:30. After only a few minutes more A states that they are still hungry, and that they should have something to eat. B looks at the watch and states that it is just before 2:00 – asks how can they manage the time? A suggestion is made to eat within the park. A and B look at 2 different restaurants within the park. Both restaurants have menus that are very expensive. A states that they want to walk out of the park, have lunch (no charge) and then re-enter the park and complete the last activity that was of particular interest. B, states that they will pay for lunch at one of the restaurants so save time, or is willing to do the last activity being slightly hungry.

Ultimately A and B leave to eat at a location outside of the park. A and B are eating lunch and drinking cocktails. B states that the cocktail is strong and is feeling the effect after the first half of the cocktail, and for a while stops drinking the cocktail, but then continues with a ‘lighter’ cocktail when the food is serviced. A, is also drinking cocktails. A and B are engaging with the wait-staff about various things in the environment and culture. The tote that B is carrying is on a chair equal distances between A and B.

As yet, of arriving at the restaurant, no one has checked the watch. After awhile B notices that the food location appears to be closing down (stop serving at 4:00). B then picks up the tote bag that has the watch hanging off the handle. It is now 4:20.

A becomes frantic and upset and wants to run back to the park to participate in the activity before the end of the day. B runs along with A back to the park. Once A and B arrive back at the park it is about 4:38 and they are told that it is too late to start the particular activity that was of special interest to A.

To re-enter the park on another day, would require a pretty significant amount of money for the entrance, and time left on the vacation is limited to only 2 more days, one which is already filled with an activity.

A, is upset and puts full blame on B missing the timeline, believing that the time at the restaurant was deliberately used as a stall in order to avoid participating in the activity that was of particular interest to A, but that B had stated they were not interested in. And that it was Bs responsibility to watch the time.

A serious argument takes place. Who was responsible? What should have happened?