Thanks for your perspective Mary — it is easy to forget how different everyone’s life unfolds. I am very lucky to have had a pretty stable and very caring upbringing, which set me on the path I am on. I am so glad to hear that that finding your partner and being together improved your life so tremendously! A real partnership, albeit requiring work, is a real treasure.

By the way, “going wild” in my definition would have been living with other 20-somethings and hacking together software products, building electronics and alike while simply not caring for anyone but myself. Maybe play more music in some bands. I can see how this is different for others again who really have to push against the boundaries and party, do drugs and drink alcohol (which I still very rarely do).