Do you have or have you had an exciting life?

[TheGeoffLinton]

Just that really. Or maybe what people would consider an interesting life? Anything that’s out of the ordinary.

I did the backpacker thing.

I spent 10 months aged 17/18 in southern Germany (79/80) in a small hotel, after A levels. Then I Uber-raised. I then, after HCP college a 2.5 years in London, spent 2 years travelling to, and living in Australia.

My DH is broadly similar.

I wouldn't change it for the world. It has so ably assisted me to appreciate, obviously, desperation in others' lives; but also nuance.

You don't need to travel, to have that excitement, and self-discovery to appreciate nuance, difference, other points of view.

But it's such great way to do so.

@Bunnyfuller that sounds very interesting! Can you say which language(s)?

I find my life exciting, but that really is only my opinion!

I think so. I've been well educated, been to some great places, met some fascinating people and have a lovely family and some wonderful stories to tell. I'm happy with my lot...

I've worked in the media, lived and worked overseas for several years, have travelled to some interesting places with my job (Central America, Middle East, Far East) and now work in an interesting role for an organisation that's been near the centre of things during the pandemic.
I'd never think of my life as having been interesting, but actually, when I think about it, it's had its moments.
I love the steadiness of WFH these days with my family (older teens and DH) close by.

I think maybe I've had an interesting life, not sure about exciting. I've made some unusual decisions which have led to being in unusual places and circumstances. One day I'd quite like to write a book, maybe just for future generations of the family, as obviously my children's lives have been defined by my own circumstances.

Travelled the world, did lots of drugs / partying and briefly became a escort in my 20s (which funded travelling the world…)

Now I’m a mum with 2 young kids who gets excited about Tupperware and baby classes. Not many people know my dark secret but I sometimes laugh to myself that no-one would guess because of how conventional I come across!

Yes, I think I’ve had an interesting life, more mundane these days. DH has been an international sportsman (I won’t say what sport because when I’ve mentioned it previously on here I’ve had a PM within minutes from someone saying they know who I am - and no, it’s not cycling ) so we’ve been part of something much bigger than us, which brings pressure and excitement too. Others might think meh, but we’ve got some great memories (no money though - minority sport).

I have had a lovey life. Drama free and blissfully boring. International travel, children well educated and trilingual. Good career, happy marriage.

We aren't property owners and we won't retire in riches but it's been fulfilling and I regret nothing.

@peaceanddove

Hmm. Well, I was educated at a Steiner school so did lots of bizarre stuff like Eurythmy, milking goats and writing Sanskrit. In sixth form I did lots of street theatre and spent one summer working backstage at Miss Saigon in the West End.

While at university, doing a Summer job, I inadvertently became embroiled in my manager's court case. I was arrested, charged and appeared at the Crown Court with my own barrister! I was granted an unconditional discharge, luckily.

In the mid 90s, we lost our rented house to a full house fire. We lost everything except the clothes we stood up in.

Nearly three years ago, over a pint in a pub with a mate, DH came up with a rather clever business idea. He took a huge gamble, mothballed his existing business, and threw everything into his new venture. It's been successful beyond our wildest dreams, to the point where he'll have made enough money to retire a millionaire before he's 54.

Other than that. Very normal.

What did you make of the Steiner experience? The stereotype of a Steiner adult is just a bit 'wooooo'.

Not overly exciting but interesting enough for me.
Hopefully I’ll have lots of interesting experiences in the future too.

Parts of it have been - though I bet that's true of lots of people. Travelled a lot in my 20s and lived abroad. had a glamorous job which also involved lots of travel and parties and meeting famous people. Then switched to the job I do now, which I love but is a lot quieter, but met DH who had a very glamorous job, with even cooler parties and way more famous celebs.

Have done a few bucket list things like parachuting unaided, sleeping wild in the desert and trekking with camels, publishing a book, climbing major mountains, living in a garret in Paris, had a couple of wild OTT romances before meeting DH.

But the last twenty years have been incredibly stable. Quiet village life raising DC and loving my job but it's 70% WFH and always has been. I'm definitely ready for another adventure but don't know what I want it to be.

I used to have an exciting life. Lived on three continents, travelled all the time, spent times in war zones and courtrooms and conflict areas. Saw all kinds of wonders, space shuttle launches, what have you.

Now I am a boring mama in the suburbs.

I think so. I've travelled a lot, partied a lot, lived and worked abroad. I do believe life is about meeting new people and experiencing new things and appreciating that there are many ways of living.
I am so grateful for the experiences I have had.

My childhood and adolescence were very exciting, thanks to the adults around me who indulged in terrifying political shenanigans.

My adult life is solitary and boring and long may that continue. The most exciting thing this month was the germination of my foxglove seeds.

Excitement is overrated.

Excavated mass graves for 5 years...

@LadyAnglerfish

My childhood and adolescence were very exciting, thanks to the adults around me who indulged in terrifying political shenanigans.

My adult life is solitary and boring and long may that continue. The most exciting thing this month was the germination of my foxglove seeds.

Excitement is overrated.

I know what you mean - the peacefulness of a 'boring' life is deeply underrated. Seeds germinating is its own excitement. I have loved living a quiet suburban life while raising children. I had zero desire to ever do anything more edgy than go on holiday to Paris Disney with them! But now they are grown up I do miss the excitement a bit.

At times...

Some stuff people in real life know about, some stuff they don't!

My "image" in real life is fairly boring and standard aside from having lived overseas for a time and did a rather unusual job at one point which brought me into contact with very wealthy sometimes famous people. They weren't particularly interesting the famous ones, the ones who were wealthy and made the most of that privilege in terms of travel, experiences and helping others were more interesting to talk to.

But basically yea people think I'm boring/haven't a wild side...little do they know! I have friends I've had since childhood who if they'd the slightest clue would be massively shocked and think it totally out of character!

That said I also know people who are perceived as "wild" and I happen to know they're actually very traditional, conservative people internally

You can't judge a book and all that...

When I mention any of it now, DD rolls her eyes and says, "I know mum, you used to be cool"

Haha I get similar from my dd but she doesn't know about the really wild stuff! She would definitely be shocked she is quite traditional by nature my little Luddite!

I'm glad I did what I did mostly few regrets but not many, mostly stuff I couldn't change.

Interesting rather than exciting sums it up having a psychotic break isn't exciting it's terrifying but I get that it's "interesting" to some.

I've had other medical near misses too

Raising dd was "interesting" too partly as she's not really much like me or her dad which was weird, she is in some ways but in others I don't get her at all or know where certain things come from! Eg she's very talented artistically and neither me nor her dad can draw for toffee and nobody in the family is really talented this way so no clue where that comes from! She also has a disability of her own which was challenging for us both to deal with and meant she wasn't a "normall" kid there were things she couldn't do with her friends etc

I was also raised in an abusive/addictive home which while not uncommon isn't "normal" either

As a pp. said - define interesting

Cuppa, tea, fish and chips, bit of magic, bout as exciting as it gets, no project Christmas type adventures.

I think I have. Lived in 3 countries. Arrested in 2 (not the ones I lived in!). Lived with a circus. Lots of raving and partying along the way. Lived in a few fun cities. Had 3 very distinct but interesting careers. Have 4 kids so have settled down somewhat but still go out lots and do lots of fun things.

Very exciting. Involved (in random order, and among other things) domestic violence, bullying, stellar academic career, lots of international travel, job loss, dorky and very outing hobbies, finding love in a rather unusual way, romantic bliss, post traumatic stress, bereavement and ill health, lovely children with disabilities, homelessness and precarious finances, political oppression, and more recently a pandemic followed by the threat of nuclear apocalypse.
Also, a nice little house with a nice little garden in a nice little town.

I'd like boring now, please.

@RobotValkyrie

Very exciting. Involved (in random order, and among other things) domestic violence, bullying, stellar academic career, lots of international travel, job loss, dorky and very outing hobbies, finding love in a rather unusual way, romantic bliss, post traumatic stress, bereavement and ill health, lovely children with disabilities, homelessness and precarious finances, political oppression, and more recently a pandemic followed by the threat of nuclear apocalypse. Also, a nice little house with a nice little garden in a nice little town.

I'd like boring now, please.

So what agency are you with ?

My sex life has been crazy. The rest not so much, though I am happy.

Yes. Name changed for this as am a regular. Lived in 8 countries some of them, not very safe ones. Escaped a revolution and lived through a coup. Written 2 books. Several careers.