So like pretty much everyone on the West Coast in the US, I'd like to consider myself a world traveler. Unfortunately my world traveling experience has thus far only been localized to a single business trip to Argentina and one two-week adventure in Tokyo (I suppose I could also count a tag-along trip to the Bahamas, but I was like ten).
Well in truth, just about anyone who knows me would have called this second revelation a no-brainer. I was known as a bit of a Japanophile in my old stomping grounds and not just because I relished in the usual imports of anime and manga. I also love Japanese music -- rock music, to be precise. I minored in Asian Studies in college, and I regularly brought Japanese candies and snacks to the office to give away. I led two Japanese study groups in college and beyond, and I even play bass in a Japanese cover band. (Okay, yeah. I'm a bit of a fan.) Half of my electronics are even in Japanese.
So I finally made it to Japan in 2010, and let me tell you -- two weeks of just me and my sister blowing through greater Tokyo, climbing Tokyo Tower, nerding out in Akihabara, getting lost in Roppongi, checking out Makudo (McDonald's), and visiting every Book-Off within a 200-square mile radius...it was amazing.
But if there's one place I've been told over and over again that I must visit, it's Kyoto -- for its beauty, for its tradition -- and I've so wanted to take those people up on their recommendation. But as you may know, as many things as Japan is, cheap is not one of them. I saved up for a few years to make my first trip over, and not break the bank, and now here I am less than two years later trying to make another attempt.
But I was thinking lately -- you only live once, and you can't take it with you anyways. So why worry? (How's that for a string of platitudes?) Anyways, what I'm trying to say is live a little. I used to always be the one with a plan, eternally careful with every spend as I knew it could impact my future dollars and cents. I rarely took vacation, I never took sick days, and while I had a reputation for diligence and hard work, that was much of all I had. But I've come to realize, everybody needs a day off from time to time, whether they think they do or not. And travel, as strenuous and time-consuming as it is, can also be refreshing. It also opens your eyes and broadens the mind to new cultures, new perspectives, and an overall different way of doing things.
Maybe you're like me and have shied away from those vacay days, planning vigorously for tomorrow. Well to that I say, take the above advice, and give yourself a day off. You deserve it.
Maybe you're nothing like me and take vacation and refresher days a plenty. Well, in that case, you'd probably be the one giving me this advice anyways, and to you, I tip my proverbial hat.
Now, of course, I'm not advocating shirking responsibility. Don't go blowing off your rent payment to buy that gorgeous new axe you just saw, regardless of how jaw-breakingly happy it would make you.
But life is unpredictable and made to live, right? Even the best-laid plans can end up in ruin, so sometimes it's best just to through the plan aside for a moment. Don't burn it all in flames (though sometimes this is called for too), but at least don't deprive yourself constantly of happiness you know you can claim.
Chances are, you deserve a little. So find a little.
As for me, hopefully by the end of this month I'll have a plan cemented to visit Japan and to finally see Kyoto, because it'll make me happy. And my new bass might have to wait until next year... unless I see one in Japan. ~Tet
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| Now available in purple, salmon, and fuchsia this spring. |
Anyways though, since visiting Argentina in my adult life, I realized one thing -- I really love traveling. And since visiting Japan, I realized one more thing -- I really love Japan.
Well in truth, just about anyone who knows me would have called this second revelation a no-brainer. I was known as a bit of a Japanophile in my old stomping grounds and not just because I relished in the usual imports of anime and manga. I also love Japanese music -- rock music, to be precise. I minored in Asian Studies in college, and I regularly brought Japanese candies and snacks to the office to give away. I led two Japanese study groups in college and beyond, and I even play bass in a Japanese cover band. (Okay, yeah. I'm a bit of a fan.) Half of my electronics are even in Japanese.
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| Darn you, Apple, and your staggered roll-outs! |
So I finally made it to Japan in 2010, and let me tell you -- two weeks of just me and my sister blowing through greater Tokyo, climbing Tokyo Tower, nerding out in Akihabara, getting lost in Roppongi, checking out Makudo (McDonald's), and visiting every Book-Off within a 200-square mile radius...it was amazing.
But if there's one place I've been told over and over again that I must visit, it's Kyoto -- for its beauty, for its tradition -- and I've so wanted to take those people up on their recommendation. But as you may know, as many things as Japan is, cheap is not one of them. I saved up for a few years to make my first trip over, and not break the bank, and now here I am less than two years later trying to make another attempt.
But I was thinking lately -- you only live once, and you can't take it with you anyways. So why worry? (How's that for a string of platitudes?) Anyways, what I'm trying to say is live a little. I used to always be the one with a plan, eternally careful with every spend as I knew it could impact my future dollars and cents. I rarely took vacation, I never took sick days, and while I had a reputation for diligence and hard work, that was much of all I had. But I've come to realize, everybody needs a day off from time to time, whether they think they do or not. And travel, as strenuous and time-consuming as it is, can also be refreshing. It also opens your eyes and broadens the mind to new cultures, new perspectives, and an overall different way of doing things.
Maybe you're like me and have shied away from those vacay days, planning vigorously for tomorrow. Well to that I say, take the above advice, and give yourself a day off. You deserve it.
Maybe you're nothing like me and take vacation and refresher days a plenty. Well, in that case, you'd probably be the one giving me this advice anyways, and to you, I tip my proverbial hat.
Now, of course, I'm not advocating shirking responsibility. Don't go blowing off your rent payment to buy that gorgeous new axe you just saw, regardless of how jaw-breakingly happy it would make you.
 |
| Not even if it's this gorgeous monstrosity of a lake placid blue gloss Fender jazz bass with maple fretboard. Don't give in! |
Chances are, you deserve a little. So find a little.
As for me, hopefully by the end of this month I'll have a plan cemented to visit Japan and to finally see Kyoto, because it'll make me happy. And my new bass might have to wait until next year... unless I see one in Japan. ~Tet
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