I don't have any superstitions but what I always travel with is my pillow and my coffee.
I was the official wedding photographer at one of my best friends' weddings....
There's no need to travel further. The Los Angeles area is big enough for us.
I grew up between the two world wars and received a rather solid general education the kind middle class children enjoyed in a country whose educational system had its roots dating back to the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.