How much to live on

uralmaid

Well I am risk averse in some things - for instance I don't like water - When I was a teenager I was offered the chance to sing on the cruiseships but turned it down as the thought of being on a vast sea and a ship going down was enough to forego the challenge. (Who knows -I could have been the next Jane Macdonald - we lived in the same town and were singing on the same circuit)  I do however like motorcycles and the camaraderie associated with it. Over the years we have had many wonderful times. Last year we purchased a huge Can Am 3 wheeler as I was having problems getting on and off the motorcycles (we still have 3 others). It has revitalised me and we are planning lots of holidays on it this year.  Trouble is we also have a motorhome so have to juggle the hols between the two.  Up to recently I still sang with a rock band too and my hair is purple. I have no intention of leading a boring old age although reading some of the responses it would appear boring isn't limited to old age.  Each to their own.

helensbiggestfan

A three wheeler sounds perfect.  Have fun,  I live not far from Matlock (Derbyshire). On Sundays it's a meeting place for bikers.  I doubt many of them are under 50.  

barnstar2077

helensbiggestfan said:

Coughing is a perilous activity.  😱.  In the past I have fractured my ribs by coughing.  🤣

I once perforated my eardrum blowing my nose, I didn't even know that was possible!

These are the things they should tell you about in school in my opinion :  )

barnstar2077

My two pence on the safety of cycling.  I have broken bones twice (in two separate incidents) while cycling to and from work in the last 32 years.  Not sure if that is a good or bad statistic really.  One was me not paying attention, and the other was a driver not paying attention.

Nebulous2

Organgrinder said:

Everyone's attitude to risk is different and no doubt is a mixture of nature and nurture.

The exact mixture I wouldn't know but looking at inherited traits between parents and their children it can't just be down to how you've been reared.

As I said upstream my background is one where most men engaged in the most dangerous occupation in the world. More dangerous than mining. That colours your attitude to risk.

Two of my great-grandfathers on one side of the family, and at least one of my great-great grandfathers on the same side drowned. 

There has been some fascinating research into the kind of cultures that grow up around extreme occupations. Often there is a fatalistic approach, that what will be will be, and it is outside our control. To an outsider some of that can seem extremely foolhardy, but it is perhaps a protection mechanism. Why would you get up, day-after-day, week after week, and put yourself at risk, if you didn't believe you had some protection? 

LL_USS

Interesting discussion regarding risks...

It is indeed a culture-bound attitude. Chinese, South East people tend to take the golden middle point, not showing anything extreme especially in public, and call it "PLAYING stocks" for example. Americans have higher percentage of their assets in stocks and shares whilst British favour a higher percentage in property (well, let's see how much this trend will change after all the tightening rules for the BTL sector).

Whilst I am risk-adverse in general, I still think if I don't try lots of things when I am still quite young then I will never experence these when I am older. I cycle to work even when I am warned our roads are not cyclist friendly. Scared at first but I thought "little kids could go so why not me", so I then went on all the most "scary" roller coaster rides when I took my children to Disney Land/ Alton Towers/ Thorpe park.... I ride a moped (only with a bit of hesitation ) when I travel in Asia. Perhaps still not skiing though :-).

SouthCoastBoy

I'm risk adverse when it comes to investment but like an outdoor adventure, climbing, sailing, running, skiing,  cycling, swimming etc. 

Everyone is different,I think it's all about knowing your strengths and weaknesses

Organgrinder

We all are what we are.

As long as you're honest and true to yourself that is all that matters.

helensbiggestfan

[Deleted User] said:

I guess I have more weaknesses than strengths lol. 

Just be yourself. As long as you are happy in your skin that's all that counts.  

helensbiggestfan

LL_USS said:

Interesting discussion regarding risks...

It is indeed a culture-bound attitude. Chinese, South East people tend to take the golden middle point, not showing anything extreme especially in public, and call it "playing the stock market". Americans have higher percentage of their assets in stocks and shares whilst British favour a higher percentage in property (well, let's see how much this trend will change after all the tightening rules for the BTL sector).

Whilst I am risk-adverse in general, I still think if I don't try lots of things when I am still quite young then I will never experence these when I am older. I cycle to work even when I am warned our roads are not cyclist friendly. Scared at first but I thought "little kids could go so why not me", so I then went on all the most "scary" roller coaster rides when I took my children to Disney Land/ Alton Towers/ Thorpe park.... I ride a moped (only with a bit of hesitation ) when I travel in Asia. Perhaps still not skiing though :-).

My husband  and I used to go to a casino sometimes. I know, I know.  My poor dad was horrified,  but my husband and I enjoyed it.  We were sensible, we gave ourselves a budget and stuck to it. If we lost our stake we quit.  If we did well we quit whilst we were ahead.  Oddly enough our track record was pretty good.  Obviously the only real "winner" in the long term is the house , same with bookies.  

As an aside I once made a killing at Ascot on Ladies Day and all for a £1 stake. . There were 5 ladies in our group.  So for the first race we put £5 between us on no 5.  It won. Not knowing how to play the game properly we put the lot on no 5 for the second race. It won.  After that we did change our numbers but we just kept letting the winnings ride.  We kept winning.  By the 4th race we had attracted quite a crowd, cheering, laughing and egging us on. The bookie was looking a bit concerned.  We won again. After winning the 5th race we decided to quit whilst we were ahead and take our winnings.  Beginners luck.  

Casinos and race meetings are fascinating places  to people watch.  You really do get all sorts.  At the casino the most reckless gamblers were the Chinese.  They would lose small fortunes and act as if it didn't matter.  "Keeping Face" lol.  I found the same when we were in China.  They will bet on anything.  It seems to be a macho thing.  

Roller coaster rides.....no thanks. They make me feel ill and give me vertigo.  I once visited a lighthouse in Orkney and passed out.  Not my finest hour.  My vertigo seems to come and go.  Once went for a walk along the cliffs at Lands End. The vertigo was so bad, my poor husband had to practically carry me back to the car. And yet i am fine with chair lifts and cable cars.  Go figure.  Lol. 

Looking back the most reckless thing I did was hitch hiking. Didn't give it a second thought. It was a different matter when I had my own children. I even hated them getting taxis, even when they were with their mates. I much preferred it when they let us pick them up.  

 I was never really happy until they were home safe and sound.......