What we miss out on vs what we fail to try

[vanman2300]

There is a question that I've been pondering the last few days. Everyone can point to things in their lives that they never got but wanted. There's also things we might never risk doing that we would love to try. But which is worse? 

I'd be interested to see what you think.....

 

[Almost There]

I guess for a lot of people a part of that would depend on the persons' ability to take risks!

I wanted a career in engineering when I was a teenager - got pregnant and married instead (it was the 60's...what can I say  )

Later on I wanted a law degree - got a divorce instead.

When the kids were all away from home I wanted to pursue my freedom and my art - I ran away from home and lived on the road for 14 years. Was it a risk - I guess, I just never thought of it that way!

For me, not having gotten what I wanted was much worse but that's because I don't hesitate to take chances that others might see as risky.

Now I'm planning on full-timing it in a van - my siblings think I'm being irresponsible, me, I see it as freedom!! It's not a risk as far as I'm concerned.

 

[B and C]

Wow!  What a "meaning of life" question.

Every choice means a road not traveled.  For work, I tried a lot of things before I "settled" on something I thought I could do for the rest of my working life.  My interests have always been all over the map.  I originally thought I would be a mechanic/race car driver.  It was a lot of fun while I was doing it, but it was hard/strenuous work with long hours and not great pay.  I "settled" on being a telephone man as the work was not strenuous and there should always be some sort of telephone work and it was interesting to me how you spoke on one end and it came out the other :shy: .  I will retire next January after starting telephone work in 1974.  

I have always been a "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" type of guy.  I find a way to get what I want accomplished, done.  Unfortunately, my enthusiasm wanes after awhile in the "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" mode I am in at that moment in time.  The upside is I have been blessed with great memories of things that most people never get to see.

I think the road traveled as a Boy Scout leader was one of the most rewarding "jobs" that I had.  I made some lifelong friends through that experience and some scouts have told me after the fact how much they appreciated the training/experiences they got from me.  (how do I be humble?)

Some van trips with my wife and son when he was young, greatly expanded his horizons.  Yes, I had a hippie van, 1977 dodge B200 short wheelbase (109 inches) outfitted with a u-shaped couch that made into a bed. 360 cid, full race cam, Hooker sidepipe headers and a 780 cfm 4 bbl Holly.  Man, would that thing run...  It worked well for us in our travels.  I put over 250K miles on it.  Hated to see it go.

I digress, "roads not traveled"???????

 

[GotSmart]

If I got what I wanted, when I wanted it, I would not have my children.

Since then I made sure of what I wanted.