"Boring"? Definitely not. Hyperreactive to anxiety, as some people are, and to certain kinds of bodily sensations. I'd be willing to bet you and I have other quirks in common. I didn't say a "dirty" word till I was at least 16, when I finally told my sister to go to hell.

I'm pretty sure I could have been diagnosed with mild Asperger's as a child, and those neurological differences don't actually go away, even when you learn to damp the reactivity and tolerate some of the experiences you find noxious.

So alcohol and other drugs did not appeal to you. You sought out other kinds of adventures, especially in the natural world. And you, like me, saw no point in meaningless sex. Rather, you have chosen to inhabit the exhilarating and sometimes excruciating world of love, even knowing in advance that it would break your heart. That takes another kind of courage.

Drinking games are stupid, full stop. Never even tried one. Speeding tickets--yeah, done that. Different kind of stupid. Someday maybe we can compare the errors that make up our checkered histories.

But it's good to see there are some unchecked items on your list of things to try.