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Annael
Immortal
May 27 2016, 3:51pm
Post #1 of 30
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Are you a risk-taker?
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"It's a dangerous business Frodo, going out of your door . . ."
Following the discussion on OT about the risk of terrorism & other risks we all face every day. I got to wondering just how folks here characterize themselves regarding taking a risk. I'm not just talking about physical risks. Do you leap into the unknown in other ways? Do you gamble with your money at the casino or the stock market? Do you zealously guard your own health or do you smoke, refuse to exercise, or eat a quart of ice cream for dessert? Do you talk to strangers? Do you travel to foreign lands? How DO you define risk, anyway?
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Otaku-sempai
Immortal
May 27 2016, 5:00pm
Post #2 of 30
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...as the mood takes me.
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Elizabeth
Half-elven
May 27 2016, 11:19pm
Post #3 of 30
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I'm comfortable with some kinds of risks.
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I marked "other". I'm not into skydiving or casino gambling or other practices with a high failure rate, but I do invest in the stock market, travel a good deal (including foreign travel), drive and fly a lot, and do a lot of things that really timid people won't do. I certainly guard my health (including regular exercise) because I enjoy doing these things and expect to continue for some time!
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
May 28 2016, 12:09am
Post #4 of 30
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Mostly no, with moments of calculated risk.
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I live in the city I grew up in, I've had the same job for the last 18 years and I'm cautious financially and romantically. But ... I did move to another city in my 20s without a job to go to; I have skydived (four times) and jumped off Auckland's Sky Tower; and I've travelled internationally by myself a few times.
I guess what I don't do is worry about things that are out of my control (being assaulted, for instance) but I take steps to lower the risk where I can (not walking at night in areas with very little lighting). And I refuse to be afraid, because that's when you limit yourself.
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Starling
Half-elven
May 28 2016, 12:24am
Post #5 of 30
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Which generally gets me into trouble.
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zarabia
Tol Eressea
May 28 2016, 5:04am
Post #6 of 30
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I'm not a risk-taker, but I'm not not-a-risk-taker...if you take my meaning :P
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I have no need for the rush of adrenaline. I have ridden rollercoasters and enjoyed them to a certain degree, but the fear of losing my lunch (much more of a concern for me than falling in that situation ) and the waste of time waiting in long lines far outweigh the small thrill of the ride. Gambling frankly bores me. But I won’t pretend that I avoid risk-taking because it just doesn’t interest me. In many instances I am, in fact, risk-averse; I like a certain amount of certainty and familiarity. But I also seek out and enjoy some things that my gambling, thrill-ride loving friends find crazy.
Most “risk-taking” for me involves travel and the opportunity to live abroad. I was quite surprised by the number of people who were amazed—and in some cases aghast—at the idea that I planned to move to another country where I couldn’t speak the language, where I had no friends, or even know a single soul. It didn’t even cross my mind to be afraid. I’m pretty introverted and don’t have a lot of close friends so I’m used to spending time alone; and in my experiences abroad, I’ve always found people to be friendly and helpful. All of my worries concerned how well I’d be able to perform my job and related things, things that I’d have to deal with if I just found another job here at home.
And then, while I was living in Poland, I would decide where to travel for holiday breaks by going to the train station and seeing what looked interesting on the departures board. In most cases I had no guide books, no hotel reservations, little idea what to expect. But things always turned out well. Oh, sometimes there were some bumps in the road at first--some pretty big bumps  --but eventually things worked out. Most people I tell this to are horrified that I didn't have things planned to the nth degree.  But I loved those trips. 
If I ever get to travel again, I’ll most likely have to do so in a more conventional way because of my health and mobility issues…and I’ll try to just be grateful, but I’ll sure miss flying by the seat of my pants. 
(This post was edited by zarabia on May 28 2016, 5:07am)
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zarabia
Tol Eressea
May 28 2016, 5:12am
Post #7 of 30
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That's the most dangerous kind of risk-taking.  And where I've always been the most timid.
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Starling
Half-elven
May 28 2016, 5:21am
Post #8 of 30
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It's another kind of 'flying by the seat of your pants' I suppose. 
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Starling
Half-elven
May 28 2016, 5:26am
Post #9 of 30
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I think your travel experiences
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are amazing.
I have never been, nor do I ever go, anywhere. I used to feel deeply uncool about this when I was younger and everyone was travelling, because of course as a Kiwi you are meant to do your OE. Now I am fine with it, just as I embrace my love of roses, Coronation Street, and pony books. The best thing about getting older is not giving a flying fruitbat what others think of you.
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zarabia
Tol Eressea
May 28 2016, 5:38am
Post #10 of 30
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Well if you live in Paradise...
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what's the hurry to go anywhere else?
I live in Oklahoma. Now, my home state has its own sort of beauty--not obvious, but very real--and much to admire. But there's also much about it that makes one want to go elsewhere. If anyone other than a fellow Okie said that they'd have to answer to me--not that I could do much about it --but it's true.
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zarabia
Tol Eressea
May 28 2016, 5:39am
Post #11 of 30
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Starling
Half-elven
May 28 2016, 6:08am
Post #12 of 30
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Christchurch is not quite paradise...but it's home. 
I suppose being able to do off-roading in the central city has a certain charm.
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Annael
Immortal
May 28 2016, 3:05pm
Post #13 of 30
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I have lived an adventurous life in many ways: climbing mountains, white-water kayaking, backpacking for up to a month at a time in the mountains, hitch-hiking around England, doing long road trips by myself. I've also gotten jobs by asking for "informational interviews" when there was no job opening at the company as well as taken jobs I wasn't really qualified for at the time, confident I could learn on the fly (which I did). And I've moved at the drop of a hat to take a job somewhere else or, once, to build a house. Also, I get up in front of people and talk - or sing! But the thing that people thought I was really nuts to do was to sell my house, quit my job, and go back to school in my 50s to get a doctorate. At the time when most people are thinking of retiring, I started a whole new career.
To me it's never felt that risky. I decided that I'm not really an adrenaline junkie so the mountain climbing & whitewater kayaking were both brief-lived. But the other things were just so much FUN. And in the case of the new career, my mom died at 95 and my dad's still going strong at 92, playing tennis & taking part in a men's group where they take it in turn to research and present on something, so I figure it's not an unreasonable thing to expect I have plenty of time.
My niece gave me a card once with a picture of a person walking out from a cliff on a tightrope - while holding the other end of the rope. I guess that's me.
But I do take good care of my body, and I'm circumspect with both money and with people; I've learned my intuition about people is always right and if I get warning signals, I back away fast.
(This post was edited by Annael on May 28 2016, 3:06pm)
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
May 28 2016, 9:09pm
Post #15 of 30
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a friend and I hired a car and drove ourselves around the island. We met a few men who were amazed at what we were doing - not because we were international visitors, but because we were women.
It interests me to come across the different cultural mores between countries - what one culture accepts as normal, another thinks is quite weird or dangerous.
I was quite surprised by the number of people who were amazed—and in some cases aghast—at the idea that I planned to move to another country
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Meneldor
Valinor
May 29 2016, 12:49am
Post #16 of 30
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Have I ever told you about the time
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I flew a Cessna under power lines?
But I didn't really mean to do it, so the jury's out on whether or not that counts as risk-taking. Sure was stupid, though.
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zarabia
Tol Eressea
May 30 2016, 4:48am
Post #17 of 30
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Ooh! Driving around Ireland sounds amazing!
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It must have been wonderful to have the freedom to go at your own pace and set your own schedule. But in Ireland, the ability to get off the beaten track would be especially beneficial; there seems to be so much to see there. {{{sigh}}} Another thing I'd like to do...
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zarabia
Tol Eressea
May 30 2016, 4:51am
Post #18 of 30
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zarabia
Tol Eressea
May 30 2016, 4:58am
Post #19 of 30
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I forget that even Paradise has its perils.
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zarabia
Tol Eressea
May 30 2016, 5:01am
Post #20 of 30
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I face a life re-boot at nearly fifty. Your story inspires me.
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Annael
Immortal
May 30 2016, 11:17pm
Post #21 of 30
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that many of us are given such a chance. Those who take it go on to be creative & do wonderful things with the last third or so of life. Those who don't often turn bitter instead.
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Ethel Duath
Half-elven
May 31 2016, 12:51am
Post #22 of 30
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I like climbing things, like rocks and mountains (not technical, though), and venturing out into the wilderness.
Also like roller coasters.
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Dame Ioreth
Tol Eressea
May 31 2016, 3:02am
Post #23 of 30
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It's all relative, though, isn't it?
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I drove to New York City alone and was called nuts for taking that kind of chance by ladies in my neighborhood. Folks here travel to foreign countries alone. I wonder how that would be viewed around here?
I used to take more chances until I became a parent. With very few family and few friends who could take on 5 kids, I've had to temper some of my more adventurous ideas because there were just too many little ones depending on me. Hubby and I were their only safety net. Now that they rely on me less I've been able to "get out" more and do more things, with them and without them. If only I could win the lottery, I could bankroll some bigger adventures!
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Kim
Valinor
Jun 1 2016, 3:30am
Post #24 of 30
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and the adventure funds will follow! (or something like that ). I await the day you tell the ladies in the neighborhood you're going to NZ!
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Kim
Valinor
Jun 1 2016, 3:41am
Post #25 of 30
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In general, no, but sometimes yes
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I'm cautious about some things - don't smoke, minimal gambling & drinking (well, except on vacation  ). But I seem to be becoming a little bit more adventurous every year, so there's some risk in that. It certainly is relative as DI said - I'm one of those people she referenced who traveled to a foreign country alone this year, which was a big adventure for me. But I realized the only thing holding me back was me, so I stopped saying "if" and started saying "when" and found that it actually wasn't that risky at all.
Of course, I do draw the line at things crazy people do, like bungee jumping and sky diving.
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