Choices. Life's all about choices. The problem is that the result of your choices may not become evident for 20 years. Sometimes when luck hits you over the head, you just have to follow your heart.

I had to buy my first decent bike with my paper route money. I too had a difficult childhood and was out of the house as much as possible, going for all-day rides in the countryside in the summer, all-day skis weekends in the winter. At least I learned to ride and ski, skills for life and joy.

After the Army, in my early 20s I took an unexpected and unwanted class in boatbuilding. 47 years later, our boatshop is still in business. You gotta do what you love. Until you find that thing, it's just life.