I have perhaps the world's longest list of You have been here too long if. . . It is often easy to see oneself in such lists, recognizing a trait you have absorbed since living here. It has become an automatic reflex, unnoticed until you return home and realize that no one else does it. My moment of truth came with: You have been in Japan too long if you get a ruler whenever you want to underline something -- and I realized I do, yet I don't recall when it became an established habit. It has become important to have things look right. This is no loss, and I question the suggestion of "lived here too long." Many of the actions or words that we take on are an improvement, a refinement, over our previous actions or words, the general politeness to those around us, the consideration of other's feelings, the preference for being neat and orderly, even though we considered ourselves quite sufficient in these characteristics before. I think of how few times I have heard voices raised in anger, seen anything even close to the use of physical violence, and I suggest the emphasis should be changed. It is not that we have lived here too long. It may be that we are just getting started. And I know, wherever I am, I will reach for a ruler whenever I want to underline something because it looks better. Here are some entries selected from the master list.
* You choose a potato salad sandwich with strawberries for lunch.
* you discover another delicious way to eat "natto."