Where Does “Sensible” End and “Obsessive” Begin?
There isn't necessarily a right answer to this question. Health organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, advise cruise ship vacationers to wash their hands thoroughly after touching elevator buttons, stair railings, and other “high traffic” objects. But the organization also points out that, despite many well-publicized news reports, fewer than one percent of sea travelers fall ill from noroviruses.
Fact
The norovirus, the stomach bug often associated with cruise ships, is also found on land and is actually believed to be the second-most common illness, after the cold. It generally doesn't last long (twenty-four to forty-eight hours) and is usually not harmful to healthy persons, although it is unpleasant. With reasonable caution, it can be avoided.
You don't want to get sick, of course — especially away from home, and on something that can rock! — but you don't want to miss out on all the fun in life, either. That's where balance comes in. Sadly, we can't tell you exactly how and where to find it. But we can advise you to look for it. And we sincerely wish you lots of good luck. (We also believe you will find it!)
A Few General Guidelines
It is perfectly appropriate to eat with clean hands, to wash your hands after touching elevator or traffic light buttons, and so on. It's more than sensible to wash your hands after you use the bathroom, and after wiping or blowing your nose (or wiping a child's nose), or caring for someone who's sick.
It's fine to take vitamin C before flying. (Anecdotal, if not factual, evidence, seems to give credence to this.) You may also want to bring your own pillow or pillowcase on flights; it's said that most airlines do not pay close attention to things like changing them.
Not to Worry
Generally speaking, you should not need to wash repeatedly. One good wash with soap (for hands, this should take less than a minute, even less than half a minute) should do fine. Unless your immune system has been weakened or you are very ill physically, you should not need to avoid elevator buttons, railings, cruise ships, airplanes, and so on.
It's probably harmless enough to rinse off and dry the tops of bottles or cans before you open them, but it is not appropriate to wash your groceries with soap before you put them away after buying them. It is, however, good sense to wash your hands after handling an animal or before putting in contact lenses.
You Can Just Be Particular
It's okay to ask for cleaner silverware in a restaurant if you're not happy with what you see, but it's not okay to bring your own (unless you happen to find yourself in a country in which it is routine for restaurant patrons to do so). Washing vegetables in running water and perhaps a little vegetable wash, prior to cooking or eating them, is fine (and is, in fact, recommended). It is a good idea to keep kitchen countertops clean (within reason).
Polishing a coin collection is okay, but it's not okay to scrub your collection of loose change. You get the idea. You can be a cautious or sensible person without taking orders from your OCD.
