"It was important to be a stranger at times, to feel out of place." I want to underline that sentiment and highlight it and put it on a bulletin board and graffiti it on bridges. You have gotten so elegantly to the heart of what makes Aragorn who he is, but portrayed it in such a simple, friendly, homespun sort of way. Thank you so much for sharing your insights and your beautiful wordswork!

a lesson to remember

This echos my thoughts closely on the Shire and Outsiders, how Aragorn would want so badly to keep it safe and pure, yet Hobbits like Merry and Pippin would see how their kind would become ever more distrustful of other races, and might seek to keep them knowing f the outside world and the people that lived around them.
I love how you put Strider in to visit the Shire, to duck and crouch to fit in tiny doorways and short tables, and to perhaps take a table off the ground! It just makes it that much more real. Well done.

I like the style of writing and word choice in your fics- you seem so in control and able to communicate your theme throughout the story. I like the idea of Aragorn changing the rule about men entering the Shire- it could have happened, and it seems like it would reasonable.

I agree with your sentiments on the whole men-banned-from-the-Shire thing; in fact, I'm almost sure I've read another fic on here with a similar idea, though not the what-if element (maybe by Dreamflower?) that made it first bother me. I like this expounding on it. And, as you said, who's to say it didn't happen?
Lovely story!
Blessings,
Sophia

You've raised a very interesting point here, and addressed it in a thoughtful and intelligent way.

As we know, JRRT disliked change in anyway, and to him an unchanging Shire was a good thing. But we know that unchanging things become stale and isolated eventually.

I think you've dealt with necessary change in an excellent way.

A wonderful story! It is a little sad in ways, but time passes, and things change, for better or worse.
Thank you for this, I really enjoyed it.

What a great idea for a plot! Thank you!