Man has always needed and thrived on the warmth of personal connection. Throughout the evolution of mankind, this desire for connection, as reflected in emotional and real ties to home, family and friends, has set human beings apart from all other organisms. Personal connection, “homing” or most commonly known today as “hiving” has driven man to excel and prosper over all other species in communication, teamwork and problem-solving.

People are driven to hive to share quality experiences with the people one cares most about, whether it is spending time at home doing “nothing,” going out to a neighborhood restaurant, coffee shop or ice cream parlor, attending a ticketed event outside the home or going on vacation together. Depending on the nature of a given relationship, hiving can be spontaneous or require careful planning to get together with those living across town, the country or the continent.

Crunched for time and forced to be higher-tech, Americans crave hiving time now more than ever. Consumers are exhausted from too much work and responsibilities and want to start living and enjoying today.

General Growth Properties, Inc.’s National Survey Network has commissioned this study to determine how and where American consumers hive and to profile those who participate in the most popular leisure activities. See our other trend reports on American Purchase Decisions and American Online Purchase Behavior.