Why do you live where you do? Part of it is about job, family and social life, but there are a million reasons we pick the places we do to stay in. I mean heck, if there weren't, then wouldn't you live somewhere else? This is especially true for people who decide to live in a foreign country, IMO, because they could (almost) always just up and go back home.
Why do I stay in Japan? That's a hard question to answer. So instead here's a semi-superficial list of things I can think of, things I love about this crazy country.
- There are like a billion convenience stores here. And they're also really really convenient. Need a sandwich, cup of hot soup or a beer? Done. Need a new 3-way circular light bulb? Probably got em too. Need a 5-point pentalobe screwdriver? Yes, I've seen them for sale in a 7-11 here. And 99% of the shops are open 24-7 with no days off, ever. Same goes for cellphone shops (except the hours), internet cafes and vending machines - they're all over the place and usually have decent service/selections for a good price.
- Japan has no inflation. At all. If anything prices have gone down in the past decade. When I got here a 12oz can of coke was 120 yen. Now... It's 120 yen or 100 in a lot of supermarkets. A beef bowl at a local eatery like Yoshinoya has floated around 350 yen for a decade. Same goes for everything (and yes, I do recognize that with the rising yen this sort of does equate to prices being actually higher, but you get my point).
- I don't need a car to live. So no loan payments or big insurance bills for me. You can get by on public transportation for almost any destination, and mixed use housing is everywhere. Yes, I own a 50cc scooter for getting around some places, but spend less than $6 a month on gas.
- There is a lot of good food in Japan, and not just sushi and tempura. You can find just about any kind of food in even the smallest little towns. And if you live even remotely near Tokyo, the choices go through the roof... Tho I would like a few more Mexican places. (^^)
- People dress (mostly) nicely, women wear makeup and take care of themselves, and people are also polite and friendly, in general. Yes, you do get scowls and the very rare "Outa my way, dipshit!" from a car window, but in general there is a civil, modern feel to the country and it really adds a lot to your experience of living here.
OK that's all for today. For more musings, do a search in the box above, or click here for part 3.
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