Recently, while I was lying on the beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, resting up from the Aloha Festivals’ Floral Parade and sucked 100% into a paperback mystery, a man approached me, wallet in hand. “Are you going to be here for awhile,” he inquired.
Startled, I looked at the time. “A little while,” I answered warily.
“Then, would you mind looking after this for a few minutes,” he asked. And with that, he took his wallet and placed it down in the sand right next to my towel.
I looked at it like it was a crawly bug or something else undesirable, and then looked back at him. He had a huge grin on his face as he continued on to say, “I know you won’t take it, darling,” and before I could even open my mouth to reply, he walked away and into the ocean, going in with a show-off dive.
Alone with the stranger’s wallet, my mind whirred. Was it a set-up, I wondered? What would happen if I looked through the wallet's contents, would he come running out of the water? What if he didn’t come back by the time I needed to leave—should I just leave it there? What if, what if, what if…
For 10 solid minutes, I lay there frozen, staring at the wallet, as if it might disappear before my eyes if I didn't actively look at it. All this time, I could see the man floating in the water, every now and again ducking under the waves.
Finally, he emerged, walked straight back to me, and picked up the wallet. With barely a glance my way, he said, “thanks darling,” and then nonchalantly sauntered away.
Now I don’t know about you, but I’ve often encountered the problem of what to do with my wallet when I’m at the beach or the pool. When traveling alone, this can especially be a problem, one which I usually solve by layering my wallet way in the bottom of my beach bag which I put under my towel which I put under an open paperback book. For some reason, I think that this tower of beach items might deter a possible burglar. And the rest, I guess, I leave to a certain amount of chance.
But never in a million years had I thought to leave my wallet with a total stranger. Was this guy on to something or was he crazy? Was he just more trusting than I am, or was he totally naïve?
I’ll probably never know, but I do wonder. What do you do with your wallet when you’re at the beach or pool? Any good tips to ensure its safety?
Comments
Oct 06, 2009
I don't really have a good suggestion except to stick it in the bottom of your shoe (because a thief would never look there, right?). I have an odd story though -- this past August my family went to Hilton Head, SC as we do every year. One day three or so, a woman asked us to watch her shoes while she went for a swim. THEN SHE NEVER CAME BACK. I have no idea what happened to her. Did she just forget her shoes? Forget which family she left them with? Did she drown? I don't know. We brought the shoes back to the beach every day for the rest of the trip, but never saw her again. CREEPY.
Oct 06, 2009
This is a very bizarre situation. Perhaps the man left his wallet with you because he just, instinctively, knew you would take care of it. Consider it a massive compliment, I guess!!
Anyway, usually I place my wallet under my towel or I just leave it in the hotel room. Chances are I won't need the wallet if all I am doing is sunbathing.
Oct 07, 2009
Take a visa card a little cash, leave it in your socks. Leave the wallet in the hotel room. It is a no brainer.
Oct 07, 2009
I would recommend using a dive wallet. They're made of plastic with a neck lanyard, and seal closed with a rubber gasket. They can be found at REI, sporting goods stores, etc. Just tie it to the draw string on your swimsuit, and leave your wallet in the hotel room safe.
Oct 11, 2009
I'd be more upset by a strange man having the presumption to call me "darling," quite frankly.
Oct 12, 2009
Looking for a travel partner to Africa. Any ideas?
Nov 04, 2009
Yeah, I would agree that referring to you as "darling" might be the biggest red flag. Personal experience, an having read "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin de Becker, I realize that con artists make a point of showing an apparent bit of vulnerability and/or asking for your polite accommodation before doing horrible things (i.e., oh don't be rude, please just help me to my car--in an isolate spot--with these groceries). While the entire incident was pretty innocent, it would raise my hackles and make me wonder what would happen next. Would this guy suggest we go for drinks afterwards? I mean it's one thing if a person with a kid asks you to just watch out for him a second while they go pee, the man asking a woman to watch his wallet starts to be a bit odd. Would that we lived in a kinder, gentler, less suspicious world!