If you could have any life....

garytelecastor · March 25th, 2008, 09:29 PM

It might be because I am over 40 now, or it may be that I am bored. I really don't know. But I have found myself lately thinking about paths in life. How we may set out on one course and the little ups and downs, ins and outs of life steer us in other directions.
I am not talking about looking back in regret, just the kind of looking back that if you had to do it all over again, what would you concentrate on in addition to music?
I know that if I was 17-18 again I probably would join the Navy and try to get into the Seal program. Either that or I would focus on Chemistry and research.
So if you could snap your fingers and have any life you wanted what would it be???

Apok · March 25th, 2008, 09:43 PM

F1 Driver

I wish that there was some racing here, there's some dirt track oval racing but thats about it. Aside from the Targa. But I've loved Formula One racing since I was a kid.

I think the military might be an ideal life for me as well, I'm in University so the direct entry officer program might be an option so maybe that one's reasonable.

XKnight · March 25th, 2008, 09:57 PM

Professionally, I'm very happy with the path I chose.

Larry F · March 25th, 2008, 10:06 PM

When I was 16, I wrote on an SAT form that I wanted a PhD in composition and to be a professor. Check.

It is everything I wanted it to be.

If I were to have taken another path, mathematics would have been a nice choice. I would not have succeeded in school, but I have since learned enough to have fun with it and to be able to converse with some of the world's leading mathematicians (no, I don't mean, "and would you like fries with your burger"). Seriously, I have gotten hooked on developments in abstract algebra in the last 40 years. It would be great to work on some of those problems as part of a job. As it is, I can only delve into it for a few months at a time every couple of years. Math camp. That's what I need.

pengipete · March 25th, 2008, 10:29 PM

I'd like to have Celine Dion's life.

So if you know any Canadian hit-men...

garytelecastor · March 25th, 2008, 10:30 PM

Apok-Man you are still way young enough to follow those dreams. Chase it, pursue it, give it a shot.

Xknight-Do you mind if I ask what you do besides play? I mean if you do anything else.

Larry-I know exactly what you mean. I love the sciences and math. I never got into it as you have but I still think it's cool. My main Math love is stats.

Guitar_Ninja · March 25th, 2008, 10:49 PM

As the song goes,

A pirate's life for me.

Bill · March 25th, 2008, 11:02 PM

From the time I was 12 I've wanted to be a writer. Started making a little money from it while I was in college, and have made a living from it since I was 23. Wouldn't change that except maybe I'd have tried the more creative side of writing earlier, but I'm doing that now, so that's great.

Now if you're asking if I could have had the talent to do something else, I wish I'd had the talent to be a music composer. To me that's the greatest art form.

Oh yeah, and I want to look like George Clooney, but with more money.

Flannel Pat · March 25th, 2008, 11:10 PM

I'd go back to when I was about 15 or 16 and make a lot of different decisions.

teleman65 · March 26th, 2008, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flannel Pat

I'd go back to when I was about 15 or 16 and make a lot of different decisions.

If I could go back to when I was 19 ...

The one thing I might change is I wouldn't have pursued a career in music. When it was good it was great but it can be a very hard life and my health has suffered for it.

casterway · March 26th, 2008, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flannel Pat

I'd go back to when I was about 15 or 16 and make a lot of different decisions.

I dunno man....19 is pretty late in life to start making changes...

Flannel Pat · March 26th, 2008, 12:57 AM

I would have not been hanging around the people that I was at that point, and I would have definitely applied myself more when it came to school.

Mark Davis · March 26th, 2008, 01:03 AM

The key to life is do everything in moderation. A glass of milk is good a gallon will make you sick.

Dont sweat the small stuff. There are always gonna be up and down times in your life.

If you have a relationship with someone and it breaks up try to remain as friendly as possible stay friends if you can.

If I could change lifes with anyone it would be my Grandma. She is 99 years old in perfect health and has seen everything. She has seen all styles of music all the wars when radio and TV first started. Id love to have all the experiences she has had.

What Id really like to do is go back in time to the 30's and 40's and see the big swing bands like Benny Goodman.

Unseen · March 26th, 2008, 01:09 AM

Steve Martin said, "Once course in Philosophy can ruin your life.

I certainly would be richer had I gone for an MBA instead of an MA in Philosophy.

Even so, I have no regrets. I probably would be considerably less happy had I gone the "filthy lucre" route.

The downside: no health insurance.

garytelecastor · March 26th, 2008, 01:31 AM

yeah, I find that looking back with regret is really a waste of time, but there are things that I would like to try and if I had another life I probably would try them. It's like there are so many options that there doesn't seem to be the right amount of time. I dive a lot and around this time of year I start thinking about the diving season and what a gas it would have been to jump out of planes, climb mountains, blow stuff up.

NewOldStock · March 26th, 2008, 02:20 AM

You will be able to go back to any point of your life if you want. At the moment of death, your brain releases a small amount of Dimethyltryptamine(dmt). This naturally occurring tryptamine can make just a few seconds feel like an eternity.

In 1998 I was in a Minnesota State park(Lake Bronson) when the campground was struck by lightning, with a couple inches of water on the ground. I was immediately suspended tree-top high, and could travel anywhere I wanted. I decided I'd go see the construction of the Egyptian Pyramids. Just when I was about to begin the journey, by human flight, it seemed, I woke up in water on the ground, but what had occurred seconds before felt more real than life. I think I may have gotten a minute dose of this chemical released when the electrical current hit my body.

After the event I researched the possible causes. This seemed like the most logical explanation. Perhaps it's occurring right now? I don't know.

Dimethyltryptamine

beep.click · March 26th, 2008, 04:41 AM

Life seems pretty good to me right now.

And like they say, "Be careful what you wish for!"

Big John · March 26th, 2008, 04:41 AM

Interesting thought but .......... if i had another life i wouldn't have done the stuff (good and bad) i have done and wouldn't be where i am now and that would be rough ----- i would probably be that other person wanting the life i have now !!

Of course, it might have been nice being a Beatle ...................

Sarge · March 26th, 2008, 06:58 AM

I often thought of becoming a Porn Star.....but I might not have lived this long!

austintele · March 26th, 2008, 08:28 AM

No regrets on the path I've choosen.

Sometimes I wonder if I went to Johns Hopkins instead of UW-Madison; probably would of drank a lot less :-).

Andy Summers · March 26th, 2008, 08:57 AM

First off..I LOVE MY FAMILY and wouldnt trade them for the world....but...

If I had things to do over again, I think Id like to be more of a Caine from Kung Fu type of person..only traveling with my guitar looking for like minded people making a few bucks here an there to survive..This is probably a pipe dream, as this road would usually end at becoming a "bum"...But if it could work enough that I could get by with the bare minimum, a bed each night, and just enough food where Im not starving, I would love to have the freedom of going where I please......and if this was the life I were leading, Id probably be wishing I could settle down and start a family......Lesson here..I don't think I'll ever be 100% happy. But Im good with that.

EDIT - The alternative to this would be a life of hanging with my kids on the couch watching Star Trek....and nothing else

hugo · March 26th, 2008, 09:01 AM

I wouldn't change my path, regardless of the downs. If anything was different I may not have my wife. Nothing is worth losing her. So, I'll take what I got. One change could change the other things that you want to keep. Maybe I'm a little too serious this morning?? I haven't had my coffee yet.
Just read the above post, so if I get to keep my wife then I'll play. LOL.
I would only change one thing - I would have learned guitar at a young age. I would have concentrated on a career as a guitarist in someone's band. Now I'm 48 and I do regret wasting all those guitar playing years and the opportunity to play in a band, whether they're famous or just a bar band. Money isn't the issue, the guitar is though.

Oh..oh. I hope this isn't a down day for me cause this post is making me regretful.

Big John · March 26th, 2008, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Summers

..only traveling with my guitar looking for like minded people making a few bucks here an there to survive.

Oh, you mean 'musician' ?

Andy Summers · March 26th, 2008, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big John

Oh, you mean 'musician' ?

Pretty much Big John

neocaster · March 26th, 2008, 09:25 AM

This is it right here, baby. I've enjoyed making mistakes. Haven't always dug paying for 'em. I'm 35, still enjoying my youth, my family, my life. I'm not willing to give up the life I have in favor of anything else.

March 25th, 2008, 09:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
garytelecastor Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,016 18 Photos	If you could have any life.... It might be because I am over 40 now, or it may be that I am bored. I really don't know. But I have found myself lately thinking about paths in life. How we may set out on one course and the little ups and downs, ins and outs of life steer us in other directions. I am not talking about looking back in regret, just the kind of looking back that if you had to do it all over again, what would you concentrate on in addition to music? I know that if I was 17-18 again I probably would join the Navy and try to get into the Seal program. Either that or I would focus on Chemistry and research. So if you could snap your fingers and have any life you wanted what would it be??? __________________ éí 'aaníígÓÓ 'áhoot'é Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos!

March 25th, 2008, 10:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Larry F Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Iowa City, IA Age: 55 Posts: 2,091	When I was 16, I wrote on an SAT form that I wanted a PhD in composition and to be a professor. Check. It is everything I wanted it to be. If I were to have taken another path, mathematics would have been a nice choice. I would not have succeeded in school, but I have since learned enough to have fun with it and to be able to converse with some of the world's leading mathematicians (no, I don't mean, "and would you like fries with your burger"). Seriously, I have gotten hooked on developments in abstract algebra in the last 40 years. It would be great to work on some of those problems as part of a job. As it is, I can only delve into it for a few months at a time every couple of years. Math camp. That's what I need. __________________ larry

March 25th, 2008, 10:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
garytelecastor Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,016 18 Photos	Apok-Man you are still way young enough to follow those dreams. Chase it, pursue it, give it a shot. Xknight-Do you mind if I ask what you do besides play? I mean if you do anything else. Larry-I know exactly what you mean. I love the sciences and math. I never got into it as you have but I still think it's cool. My main Math love is stats. __________________ éí 'aaníígÓÓ 'áhoot'é Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos!

March 25th, 2008, 10:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
Guitar_Ninja Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 851 2 Photos	As the song goes, A pirate's life for me. __________________ Presents for MMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE???

March 25th, 2008, 11:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bill Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 2,328 56 Photos	From the time I was 12 I've wanted to be a writer. Started making a little money from it while I was in college, and have made a living from it since I was 23. Wouldn't change that except maybe I'd have tried the more creative side of writing earlier, but I'm doing that now, so that's great. Now if you're asking if I could have had the talent to do something else, I wish I'd had the talent to be a music composer. To me that's the greatest art form. Oh yeah, and I want to look like George Clooney, but with more money. __________________ B i l l B a e c k A journal of our year in London

March 25th, 2008, 09:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Apok TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Newfoundland Age: 21 Posts: 97	F1 Driver I wish that there was some racing here, there's some dirt track oval racing but thats about it. Aside from the Targa. But I've loved Formula One racing since I was a kid. I think the military might be an ideal life for me as well, I'm in University so the direct entry officer program might be an option so maybe that one's reasonable.

March 25th, 2008, 09:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
XKnight Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: TX Posts: 385	Professionally, I'm very happy with the path I chose.

March 25th, 2008, 10:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
pengipete Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gloucester U.K. Age: 47 Posts: 770	I'd like to have Celine Dion's life. So if you know any Canadian hit-men...

March 25th, 2008, 11:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
Flannel Pat Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Age: 20 Posts: 384	I'd go back to when I was about 15 or 16 and make a lot of different decisions.

March 26th, 2008, 12:57 AM	#12 (permalink)
Flannel Pat Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Age: 20 Posts: 384	I would have not been hanging around the people that I was at that point, and I would have definitely applied myself more when it came to school.

March 26th, 2008, 01:03 AM	#13 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 57 Posts: 10,940	The key to life is do everything in moderation. A glass of milk is good a gallon will make you sick. Dont sweat the small stuff. There are always gonna be up and down times in your life. If you have a relationship with someone and it breaks up try to remain as friendly as possible stay friends if you can. If I could change lifes with anyone it would be my Grandma. She is 99 years old in perfect health and has seen everything. She has seen all styles of music all the wars when radio and TV first started. Id love to have all the experiences she has had. What Id really like to do is go back in time to the 30's and 40's and see the big swing bands like Benny Goodman. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

March 26th, 2008, 01:09 AM	#14 (permalink)
Unseen Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 61 Posts: 698	Steve Martin said, "Once course in Philosophy can ruin your life. I certainly would be richer had I gone for an MBA instead of an MA in Philosophy. Even so, I have no regrets. I probably would be considerably less happy had I gone the "filthy lucre" route. The downside: no health insurance.

March 26th, 2008, 01:31 AM	#15 (permalink)
garytelecastor Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,016 18 Photos	yeah, I find that looking back with regret is really a waste of time, but there are things that I would like to try and if I had another life I probably would try them. It's like there are so many options that there doesn't seem to be the right amount of time. I dive a lot and around this time of year I start thinking about the diving season and what a gas it would have been to jump out of planes, climb mountains, blow stuff up. __________________ éí 'aaníígÓÓ 'áhoot'é Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos!

March 26th, 2008, 02:20 AM	#16 (permalink)
NewOldStock Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northern Minnesota Age: 35 Posts: 560	You will be able to go back to any point of your life if you want. At the moment of death, your brain releases a small amount of Dimethyltryptamine(dmt). This naturally occurring tryptamine can make just a few seconds feel like an eternity. In 1998 I was in a Minnesota State park(Lake Bronson) when the campground was struck by lightning, with a couple inches of water on the ground. I was immediately suspended tree-top high, and could travel anywhere I wanted. I decided I'd go see the construction of the Egyptian Pyramids. Just when I was about to begin the journey, by human flight, it seemed, I woke up in water on the ground, but what had occurred seconds before felt more real than life. I think I may have gotten a minute dose of this chemical released when the electrical current hit my body. After the event I researched the possible causes. This seemed like the most logical explanation. Perhaps it's occurring right now? I don't know. Dimethyltryptamine

March 26th, 2008, 04:41 AM	#17 (permalink)
beep.click Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California Age: 49 Posts: 1,060	Life seems pretty good to me right now. And like they say, "Be careful what you wish for!" __________________ "It looked like a giant green gum drop to me."

March 26th, 2008, 04:41 AM	#18 (permalink)
Big John Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Suffolk UK Posts: 3,158 26 Photos	Interesting thought but .......... if i had another life i wouldn't have done the stuff (good and bad) i have done and wouldn't be where i am now and that would be rough ----- i would probably be that other person wanting the life i have now !! Of course, it might have been nice being a Beatle ................... __________________ If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly !!

March 26th, 2008, 06:58 AM	#19 (permalink)
Sarge Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pgh,Pa Age: 52 Posts: 3,548	I often thought of becoming a Porn Star.....but I might not have lived this long! __________________ A coward dies many deaths, a Soldier once.

March 26th, 2008, 08:28 AM	#20 (permalink)
austintele Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2004 Location: austin, texas Posts: 1,447	No regrets on the path I've choosen. Sometimes I wonder if I went to Johns Hopkins instead of UW-Madison; probably would of drank a lot less :-).

March 26th, 2008, 08:57 AM	#21 (permalink)
Andy Summers Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: CT Age: 36 Posts: 406	First off..I LOVE MY FAMILY and wouldnt trade them for the world....but... If I had things to do over again, I think Id like to be more of a Caine from Kung Fu type of person..only traveling with my guitar looking for like minded people making a few bucks here an there to survive..This is probably a pipe dream, as this road would usually end at becoming a "bum"...But if it could work enough that I could get by with the bare minimum, a bed each night, and just enough food where Im not starving, I would love to have the freedom of going where I please......and if this was the life I were leading, Id probably be wishing I could settle down and start a family......Lesson here..I don't think I'll ever be 100% happy. But Im good with that. EDIT - The alternative to this would be a life of hanging with my kids on the couch watching Star Trek....and nothing else

March 26th, 2008, 09:01 AM	#22 (permalink)
hugo Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sarnia,Ontario Age: 48 Posts: 812	I wouldn't change my path, regardless of the downs. If anything was different I may not have my wife. Nothing is worth losing her. So, I'll take what I got. One change could change the other things that you want to keep. Maybe I'm a little too serious this morning?? I haven't had my coffee yet. Just read the above post, so if I get to keep my wife then I'll play. LOL. I would only change one thing - I would have learned guitar at a young age. I would have concentrated on a career as a guitarist in someone's band. Now I'm 48 and I do regret wasting all those guitar playing years and the opportunity to play in a band, whether they're famous or just a bar band. Money isn't the issue, the guitar is though. Oh..oh. I hope this isn't a down day for me cause this post is making me regretful.

March 26th, 2008, 09:25 AM	#25 (permalink)
neocaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester County, PA Age: 35 Posts: 3,131 11 Photos	This is it right here, baby. I've enjoyed making mistakes. Haven't always dug paying for 'em. I'm 35, still enjoying my youth, my family, my life. I'm not willing to give up the life I have in favor of anything else.