When I was younger, I loved the idea of cargo pants. Luckily they were in style at the time so they weren't entirely uncool to wear and everyone did. But the idea of having all this storage space appealed to me. I could carry everything! My wallet, my beeper (not a word, whipper snapper), a bottle of pop, my gameboy, etc. I had so much room I could carry anything I wanted to show people! Even a small paperback book could fit. At my first IT job, it was great, because I could carry all my tools in my pockets: no toolbelt required.
As I got older, I moved away from this. I suppose part of the reason was that cargo pants' brief time in style faded and they again became seriously uncool. But another part was comfort. I noticed how carrying about all this junk was really uncomfortable. Esp things in the second pock down would rub against my legs and annoy me.
I downgraded to normal jeans and khakis and have worn them since. Even with the more limited pockets, I found I wanted to carry less and less and less. Because carrying stuff is annoying!
In #silvergoldstackers we often don't think much of digital money. Crypto is a unique thing, but still, digital money is suspicious and the only real money is precious metals and physical things. I fully embrace this view, yet I also can't deny the appeal of not having to carry around money. A chunk of silver, coins, bills—it is all annoying! Given that, I fully like this trend of putting it all on your phone or watch. Less stuff I have to carry.
So just what do I carry in my pockets? My phone, a simple ID holder (as far as I know, Japan still doesn't accept digital ID and as a foreigner I am required to always have my VISA with me or I can be arrested), two American silver eagles, and a handkerchief. No pocket knife. I have one, but it stays at home. Japan is incredibly strict on blade length—go above 6 cm and you can be arrested, even below they might stop and argue with you about why you need one—so it's just not worth the hassle. The two eagles are for the years of my sons' births. Good luck charms to pass down to them someday. The ID holder also has room for one credit card and one IC card.
Japan is still largely a cash society (though this is changing very quickly) so if I'm going somewhere that I know only takes cash I will also grab my larger wallet. But I only carry that one if I have to.
Anyway, that's it.
I look forward to the day when I can leave the ID holder at home and just carry a photo of my alien card on my phone. One less thing to carry!
About those silver eagles, by the way. Go read this post about my idea to do this. I've been carrying them for close to a year now. Getting a little scratched up, and taking on a little dirt from my fingers, but still looking good for now!
How about you? What do you carry in your pockets? Are you ok with it or are you as annoyed as I am about the entire situation? Let me know in the comments.
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David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org. Write him on Twitter or Mastodon. |
