Dog-sitting and driving an unusual car

What do dog-sitting and driving unusual cars have in common? Well, unless you're me, probably not very much, so stick with me here.

First up: dog-sitting. Last week I was in charge of my sister's dog while she and her family were out of town on vacation. Klondike is a 90 pound (at least) German shepherd. My apartment isn't exactly tiny, but it's also not the three bedroom house with big backyard that my sister has. He's a good dog, though, so even though he overwhelmed my space a bit and was shedding white doggie hair like it was his job, I quickly got used to having him with me. Yesterday I woke up and was a little bit sad when I didn't have to step over him to get into the bathroom.

Next up: driving an unusual car. I drive a Smart car and they're pretty uncommon in these parts. When I first got it, it took me awhile to get used to the fact that most people had never seen it before and would stare at it (or point, or laugh, or ask questions, etc.). I don't notice these looks anymore unless I'm driving in a new neighborhood.

Putting it all together: At some point it occurred to me that both of these things bode well for my upcoming trip. To me, the dog-sitting scenario meant that I am flexible and easily adapt to whatever situation I find myself in. If I've learned anything so far during all the research I've done, it's that travelers have to maintain flexibility and adapt to the region if they're going to "make it." And getting used to stares, I think, has prepared me for the stares I'm bound to get as a solo white woman traveling through SE Asia - I'm sure to stick out like a sore thumb.

What do you think? Am I reading WAY too much into this? Do I have travel on the brain so much that I could see lessons in just about anything?