Rule One

I told my traveling companion for this summer’s Japanese adventures that there would be a few serious rules. It is time to start letting the rules out.

Rule one – Japanese Corollary to “Shit Happens”.

First – to me Shit Happens is not an expression to be used with a shrug to excuse one’s own carelessness or lack of planning. As in BP is not allowed to say “Shit Happens”.  If I miss a plane because I am having a bad hair day – “Shit Happens” doesn’t let me off the hook.

To me “Shit Happens” is a part of the human condition.

Hence – Rule one – Japanese Corollary to “Shit Happens”.

Japan is the earthquake capital of the the planet. The chance of us getting caught in a minor quake is major. The chance of getting caught by a major quake is minor. Nevertheless –

Rule One: Every time we return to our hotel room – we will place our shoes, passports, credit cards, money and jackets (if we have jackets) in bags by the door. In my case it will be my purse and shoes. That way, if we are shaken out of our beds in the middle of the night – and run out of our hotel room – at least we’ll have shoes! Which seems like a good plan to me. And, we will agree that if leaving seems like a good idea – we will leave immediately … no stopping to pick up the iP0d, camera, computer, or underdrawers.

And, this is for me – if there is  a tsunami warning we will follow orders. In Hawai’i, I am willing to decide to ignore tsunami warnings. But, not where I don’t know the ocean bottom, general tsunami history, etc. Not to mention not knowing Japanese.

So, there it is – Travel Rule One.