Monday, February 27, 2006

Northern Exposure

I am a California transplant. I grew up in relatively decent neighborhoods down there, but still practiced deadbolting the doors, taking the faceplate off my car stereo even for quick trips into the store and never wore red to high school because of gangs. Over the years I witnessed or was victim to a few robberies. I always assumed that's just the way the world was....and managed to live accordingly just fine.

I've been in Washington for over 10 years now, where I've discovered that things are a little better. I've slowly become accustomed to things like walking around downtown at night after a late movie or a show or not needing heavy chain for a bike lock. I'm not saying nothing bad has happened since I moved here, but it's nice not to wonder whether or not that guy I just passed in traffic might have a gun.

Fast forward to today.

Heather and I have been sick for the last week and tonight we stopped by Albertsons to buy some quick food for dinner because neither one of us wanted to cook. When I came back out to my car, the door was wide open. My immediate instinct was that someone had broken in. Then I checked, and the stereo was there, my phone was there, even the change in the cupholder was there. I had apparently just not closed the door all the way and it had fallen open. No one gave it a second glance....and we were in the store for a long time.

I still felt really stupid all the way home, but I gotta say, I'm very glad I live up here now. It's pretty cool to be able to make a mistake that huge and not get burned.