Ric's Top 10 Clues That We Are Not in San Diego Anymore

10. The vending machines. They are everywhere. They sell hot and cold beverages, cigarettes, toys, ice cream, meal tickets, and even freshly-cut french fries. A side note on the machines: we walked to our new house a few weekends ago Sunday and we noticed that the price for the same items dropped as we got away from the base.

9. No tipping. I love it. People give good service and they are not angling for a tip.

8. Toto Toilets. We love them. We are planning to bring one home with us. Can't beat a warm seat and a warm rinse after doing your business.

7. Eating with Chopsticks. It requires that all prepared food is bite size. What a concept! We are still struggling to keep stuff from falling onto our laps. But give us a few years and we will be experts.

6. Bowing. The cashier at the supermarket bows to you. Employees at work bow. Strangers bow on the street if you engage them in conversation. It is so respectful.

5. A Cash Society. I expected to be using a credit card everywhere we went. But most restaurants and other businesses don't take credit cards, especially the smaller stores. A general rule is that we expect to have to use cash everywhere except on the Navy Base. Also, we use a lot of coins, so we had to get new wallets with coin pouches.

4. Presentation of food. Beautiful small plates with artfully arranged pickled vegetables and meats and fish. The balance of colors and flavors. We have never seen so many beautiful desserts that are made out of beans. And then there was the colorful seasoning that Danny calls fishfood.

3. Full employment. Though things are changing, there stills appears to be a willingness to sacrifice efficiency for full employment. Several people might help you check out at a store. I am impressed by the very old men in their hard hats that take their parking attendant jobs so seriously. There is pride and quality in the work (at least an appearance of it). Another example is the roads. They are flawless in an pretty harsh envronment (lots of rain, snow and earthquakes).

2. Smoking in restaurants. We are not used to it and can't tolerate it. Unfortunately, it is worse in some of the really cool small neighborhood restaurants.

And the number one clue that we are no longer living in San Diego is.........(actually these are not in any special order. So don't get your hopes up for this last one.

1. People being polite in public places. People don't use their cell phones on trains (for talking at least...they are busily texting...or something that looks like it). People are quiet. They never shout across a room to another person. Drivers let you cut in. In fact, they seem to go out of their way to be chivalrous. Some people have said that it is only a facade, but that facade impacts a lot of first impressions.

and another number 1.

1. We feel safe. Safe from violent crime and even pickpockets. Yes, there are burgluries and pickpockets. But it is much less common here than in other countries. I will post the stats on violent crime as compared to other parts of the world soon.