A recent trip to my sister’s house had me musing on the debate of hotel room souvenir gathering. When we were in Disneyworld we took quite a few of the ornamental soaps and creams, simply because they had Mickey Mouse on them. Let’s face it, who can resist antibacterial hand soap in the shape of the most famous rodent on earth? The soaps had ended up as stocking stuffers for the family (cute or not, what else are you going to do with 15 tiny soaps?) and she had one proudly displayed in her guest bathroom.

This led me to ponder the varying ethical arguments for or against the act. There is something completely irresistible about little bottles of mouthwash, lotion and lavender 3-in-one shampoo, conditioner and body wash all lined up on the hotel bathroom counter. Many of us use them up and there is no issue. SOME of us, those who prefer their own brand of personal toiletries, will never use them, but the urge is still there to take the little offerings in the hope that we will have a use for them someday, or at least for the cute little bottles.

Most do not feel guilty for this in the least. They are there for us to use, are they not? It wasn’t specified that they must be used while enjoying your stay. But some would call it stealing, likely the same ones who frown on taking more than one mint from the restaurant welcome desk or two copies of the complimentary bus schedules from the transit office. They would have us believe we are corrupting the system, bankrupting the Econolodge and very likely throwing the delicate balance of the universe out of kilter.

Strangely enough, Adam seems to be among these crusaders. He sees it as nicking, and that includes everything. Not just the little toiletries, but also hotel branded pens, scribble pads, plastic laundry bags and disposable cups. He even thinks it is wrong to take the “room” towels to the pool and the “pool” towels back to the room, for they are clearly meant to be two different groups, not to be mingled.

This mentality does not lead him to let the items lie, however. Although he sees it as stealing, to him this is precisely WHY they must be taken. I don’t think he would be half as interested if he thought we were supposed to take them. Maybe it is a personal rebellion against the economic super powers of our continent, or maybe he just likes plastic laundry bags emblazoned with the mouse. When we returned from Florida, I saw that NOTHING had been safe from him: he had taken soaps, bath gels, even the little card that tells you to call the concierge if more toiletries are required. He took that one for me, allegedly, for my journal. He would delight each day after returning from the park when he saw that the cleaner had replenished all the items, only for him to take them again. I think he really thought he was outsmarting them. He commented more than once on how silly it was that they kept replacing them, knowing he was stealing them.

Adam is a good guy. A VERY good guy and I can’t say how happy I am that for him, rebelling does not involve drinking, fighting or anything that would get him arrested. It involves little mini bottles of shampoo, a boyish grin and the thrill of victory over the toiletry police.