Well, the father of the guy who acquired that plot of land actually inherited a slightly smaller plot of land from his father in 1920. That plot of land was about a 15 minute walk to the Imperial Palace right smack in the middle of Tokyo.

After WWII, another man who owned that plot of land he acquired, traded it with him for his father's land 15 minute walk from the Imperial Palace. My friend (the father of the guy who acquired it) liked the idea of getting such a large piece for the smaller piece of land he owned. But the land he acquired was like about a 50 minute walk from the Imperial Palace instead of the 15 minute walk of his father's place.

The mansion the son got was also about the same distance from the Imperial Palace, but about 10 kilometers away, but still in greater downtown Tokyo.

I myself lived in downtown Tokyo for several years. It's convenient, but expensive. And you don't have that much greenery.

The son of my friend was born and raised in downtown Tokyo and thus that's the only life he's known. I on the other hand was brought up in a more rural area and thus enjoy nature and the natural surroundings that come with it.

He can walk 5 minutes and buy just about anything. I require a car to go buy something.

He doesn't have a front or back yard, but shares the 1st floor with hundreds of other people. I have a front and back yard and only share it with my family.

I can park 3 cars in front of my house, but he has to pay $700 or more per month to just park one car if he has one.

I often watch wild quail running around in front of my house. He will never ever be able to experience that.

I have to cut my own lawn several times a year. He doesn't have to.

I breath fresh air daily where as he's in downtown Tokyo and thus must breath the smog that's constantly pumped into the air.

I hang my clothes on the clothes line in front of my house. He has to hang his either on his verandah or on the roof of the mansion he lives in. Both will show the same results... black soot from the smog on his clothing hung outside.

I live a 15 minute drive to the Pacific ocean. He lives about 1.5 hours from the Pacific ocean.

Personally, I never really liked living in downtown Tokyo, but put up with it for several years until I moved out to a better place.

FWIW

Your lifestyle sounds better and more relaxing but some people love cities and the diversity of cultures, food, and entertainment.  In addition to work.

To get back to vaccines, things are opening in California, but with severe restrictions. Other states are going to be similar.

NBC 7 San Diego

COVID-19 Tests or Proof of Vaccination Required for Indoor Meetings, Receptions, Conferences in California

According to the California Department of Public Health, people will be required to get a COVID-19 test or show proof of being fully vaccinated to attend an indoor reception, meeting, or conference beginning April 15.

Read more from NBC 7 San Diego

Showtalk said...

According to the California Department of Public Health, people will be required to get a COVID-19 test or show proof of being fully vaccinated to attend an indoor reception, meeting, or conference beginning April 15.

ROFLMAO...

The reason I laugh is because of the COVID-19 test firstly and then because you have to show proof of being fully vaccinated.

Get a test on Apr 2nd, 2021 and test negative. Go to a private home party on the evening of Apr 2nd or 3rd or 4th, 2021 and get COVID-19. On Apr 12th, 2021, you want to enter  an indoor activity and thus show your Apr 2nd, 2021 test results! Bwa ha ha ha ha...

As for showing proof of being fully vaccinated... are you required to show proof that you're a registered voter to vote? Or is that yet another double standard?

It's just the State flexing their muscles and seeing how many will jump through their hoops. If I lived in California, I would have moved out a long time ago.

FWIW

No the test has to be within 24 hours, something like that.  But that assumes the door monitor or bouncer actually checks the proof closely. It’s only as good as the person doing the checking.

Showtalk said...

No the test has to be within 24 hours, something like that.

So you would have to be tested almost daily if you were out and about every day!

FWIW

Before going to a big event, yes.

Showtalk said...

Before going to a big event, yes.

What about going to the indoor restaurant right around the corner from your office? Or the pub across the street? Or the shopping center down the road? Or the supermarket?

And don't forget, some states are refusing to issue COVID passports while there are already fake vaccination results you can buy online for $25 ~ $30?

FWIW

Those seen big events. I didn’t plan nor organize it, I’m just repeating what I’ve read.

Showtalk said...

Those seen big events. I didn’t plan nor organize it, I’m just repeating what I’ve read.

Then read this:

Like masks and vaccines, vaccine passports have become politicized.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order last week prohibiting businesses from requiring customers to provide any certification of COVID-19 vaccination to gain entry or service.

The order says that "so-called COVID-19 vaccine passports reduce individual freedom and will harm patient privacy," and that requiring the passes for "everyday life" activities like going to a sporting event, restaurant or movie theater "would create two classes of citizens based on vaccinations."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order this week that prohibits state agencies from creating a vaccine passport requirement, or otherwise conditioning services on an individual's COVID-19 vaccination status. Organizations receiving public funds are prohibited from requiring consumers to provide documentation of vaccine status in order to receive service or gain entry.

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/08/985400141/faq-what-is-a-vaccine-passport-and-what-are-these-credentials-used-for

FWIW

We’ve lost common sense due to politics.  There is HIPPA privacy which means technically, passports are in violation. I can see where that might be a problem in businesses, if they require vaccines to return to work but people don’t want to reveal personal information.  Right now, workplaces are not allowed to ask unless there is a stipulated reason, like they work in a hospital.  There is also the problem of shaming, or retaliating against people who are not vaccinated.  

Its a problem in very blue areas with huge restrictions.