

I work retail in a state in New England. My experiences have been getting sirred (and occasionally ma’amed when I am turned away, which is better than nothing) by customers asking for directions all the time. Constantly, and not just by older folk. Maybe it’s a cognitive bias that I’m not recognizing, and my area is more like you described and I’ve just been unlucky, but I hate it so much either way.
Water goes towards holes in the floor below it, so if a hole is too close, the water won’t spread. I see one behind the water next to the wall. Fill that hole and any others you find, and it should spread out.