A newcomer to Tokyo was going on about the expense of keeping entertained in the city. When I countered that there are lots of low-cost and no-cost things to do, he challenged me to list them.

And I did, but what struck me is that most of the things I do to amuse myself are creative. If I have a camera with me, or a sketchbook, video camera, or notebook, I spend my time observing and recording things around me. If I don’t have a device to record, I simply watch.

(Or I run into a shop to buy a notebook and pan—I’m the owner of countless notebooks and pens purchased because of an urgent need to write in the field.)

So while my tools may cost me a bit of cash, I occupy my time using them at very little cost. If I’m lucky, they sometimes make me money, too. Being a creative person has hidden fiscal advantages.