Maximum Occupancy

Time for another “Random Thinking Moment” – it’s been way too long, don’t you think? This one came to me after lunch one day a few weeks ago . . .

I often wonder, when I see these “Maximum Occupancy” signs, how they come up with the maximum number? Do they allow a certain amount of square footage per person, and then do the simple math to determine how many people can fit into a space? What if one person takes up more square footage than another person? Do they take that into consideration? How about the space that the general public doesn’t go into, but perhaps the working staff occupies? Do they deduct that square footage from the other space, and adjust the number that way?

What about elevators? I often thought about how they post the weight limit on an elevator . . . I would imagine that the elevator people test it and determine what maximum weight an elevator can withstand. However, how do you really know the weight of the people riding the elevator, and if you are anywhere close to the limit? I often find myself doing calculations in my head, checking out the other people with me and trying to guess their weight, wondering if we are going to make it up to the top. What if they had a scale that showed the weight being held in the elevator, and then each time someone else entered, the number would be adjusted. That would really kill me if entered the elevator and some red flashing light would display my weight for all to see, or if some math genius next to me would quickly calculate my weight and determine that we were in trouble. Or worse, could you imagine how awful if you were the one entering that caused the elevator to reach its maximum limit? What if a big buzzer went off and a loud voice overhead said, “The elevator has reached it maximum weight limit. Please exit the elevator immediately.” Oh, how awful that would be . . . .

Hmmmmm . . . .

I asked my husband how many people would be the maximum occupancy of a place like Potbelly Sandwich. He thought maybe 100 people. That seems like a lot of hungry sandwich loving people. Do they determine it by the seating? Can our nearby Potbelly really hold 100 people in it? What if it was 100 of my closest blog friends, gathering for a little TLC and PB&J. Now that would be cool. Oh, we’d have lots to talk about, wouldn’t we?

I remember probably 20 years ago, when I was single and living at home with the parents, that a Walgreens drug store was being built in our neighborhood. My mother had much stress over the building of this store, which was placed on a tight corner lot in a pretty congested part of town. Every single time we passed the construction site, my mom would fret, "Where in the world are all of the people going to park?", as their parking lot clearly wasn't large enough for Mom's liking. I would laugh and laugh at her statement, always telling her, "Mom, why are you so concerned over where they will park?" I laugh right now as I think about these "random thinking moments" of Maximum occupancy and am reminded that the older I get, the more I am like my Mom. You won't find me admitting to that very often, but this time, I do think it's true.

Well, that’s all for this installment of my Random Thinking Moments. Thanks for letting me share my most recent silly thoughts with you. And remember . . . the next time you’re on an elevator with me, you’ll know what I’m trying to figure out!

;)

What Random Thinking Moment have you had recently? Leave me a comment, I’d love to know!