Anything Can Be a Temple Part II

To conclude the moment of clarity brought on by the Japantown Safeway; it goes like this:

It's time to go shopping. I write a list of what we need. I gather my reusable bags because in California, they charge you if you want a disposable store bag. I find the keys to the car. I take a deep breath and I mentally prepare myself for the Safeway experience. I think about all the skills I will call on to complete this mission--I refer to them as "City Skills":

1. The City Walk
2. Eye Contact/No Eye Contact
3. Don't-Fuck-With-Me Emanation 
4. Appropriate Clothing 
5. Ankle Shiv

Clearly the last one isn't something I employ anymore--although I do know how to make a great shiv (I studied shiv making when I thought I might be colonizing Mars and there was a good chance the other astronauts would resort to cannibalism before the rocket landed...this is a true fact!)

But the City Walk I have been honing for decades--street people compliment me on my walk--it's that good.

When to make eye contact and when to avoid it--this is a dangerous game to play if you don't know what you're doing. I have made mistakes and paid for it! But I pretty much got this one down at this point.

Proper attitude emanation--another way to communicate without words. Your energy field will be your undoing if you don't know what you're doing. The Don't-Fuck-With-Me vibe is crucial.

Clothing? Come on--that's a no brainer. People have been killed for wearing the wrong outfit. 

And the last thing--most important thing--is that I BELONG HERE attitude. All of these things, the walk, the eyes, the vibe, the clothing, (the shiv), all add up to one thing: This is my town. Period. 

Now I am ready to go grocery shopping!

I walk out of the house and I feel a surge of pride in my ability to do this. My life experience that enables me to walk practically harrassed in almost any city.