I have a somewhat philosophical attitude towards risk when travelling.
First, I believe that in general, "risk" for humans almost anywhere on earth is about equal. (Yes, standing on a high mountain may be risky, but you don't run the risk there of being run over by a tram.)
But, when travelling, risk may be perceived as increased, Why? Because many of the real risks at home are
known risks, and you know how to avoid them or deal with them - you've learned that as a child. When you travel, you'll suddenly encounter new risks, ones you haven't been trained to avoid, and may not see. At home, maybe, you know not to step into a ditch: you recognize a ditch, you can estimate how deep it is, you know how to handle that situation. But when you go to a a desert, do you recognize which type of sand is safe to step upon? At home, you know which way to look when crossing the street to see if it's safe; but when you go to a country where the traffic is on the other side of the road (or "any" side!) you may well look the wrong way out of learned risk-avoiding behavior - and thus put yourself at risk. (I had a couple if near misses that way!)
So, when I travel, I know that there will be
unknown risks. At the same time, some of the risks at home won't be there (I'm far less likely to have my handbag stolen in Iran than in Amsterdam.)
Some risks though (like a fire hazard, or traffic situations) may be expected, but still hard to deal with. Which do you fear the most? There may not
be another place to sleep where there is no fire hazard; and you may not be able to avoid a dangerous descent along a narrow and slippery mountain road.
No, I don't carry a portable smoke detector (no matter how portable, it's extra weight and at least extra bulk). Do I fear a blaze? Hardly - dying in a blaze can be a "soft" way to go, as most victims are already unconscious from carbon monoxide poisoning before the flames get to them: you won't know, you'll just be dying in your sleep. I fear that mountain descent along the slippery road much more - if we topple over the edge, I may be an invalid for the rest of my life, and I fear that more than sudden death.
So - when I travel I just
accept there will be unknown risks, ones that are different from the risks I face at home. And I
accept there will be risks I cannot do anything about. As in the story my primary school teacher told us: a man who stayed at home because of the risk of travelling had a lamp falling on his head - and died at home, in his own chair. Risks, even unknown risks, are everywhere. Personally, I'd rather die when travelling than at home!
I even have a "prefered death": dropping dead at age 85+ on the steps of yet another airplane! ;-)
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