International border crxings & passports

[shootingstar]

2 thoughts which often I do think of if I've made a recent international border crossing (which we did when going to Seattle):

1.How different the experience might be depending on the immigration/customs authorities personnel, geographic location of border crossing and ID checking.

2. And how glad I am to have my Canadian passport as my primary photo ID --both for ease of security clearance and also, I suppose with a tinge of patriotic pride, I do like flashing my Canadian passport.

It is a country passport that is highly coveted among thieves internationally. And in a way, I know how much effort, how many years it takes for some people (ie. my relatives from Communist China) from other countries try to immigrate to Canada by undergoing the normal process. I do not take my citizenship for granted. Otherwise my life would be have been VERY different if I was ie. born and raised in China. I am genuinely glad to be Canadian and ..to show it, to claim it when asked/challenged. And I have been challenged when overseas in Europe.

Even before the Canadian requirements for Canadians came into effect for passports, I always registered, renewed and used my passport for past few decades. I never felt comfortable carrying my Canadian birth certificate (flimsy, but valuable piece of ID). I don't have a driver's license. What would visually separate me from any visitor from Asia?

Have done enough travel outside of Canada that it does warrant the cost of renewing my passport every few years over time.