The situation described in this post and reactions I heard from friends and family when I told them what happened got me thinking about something, especially since my wife and a few other insist it's evidence that I have a death wish.
First, I don't think I was in that much danger since I not only was able to call 911, I had a Garmin Inreach with me (in case I couldn't get a signal) and some emergency gear that would have probably prevented me from dying had I needed to stay the night in the woods.
Second, I'd rather die than stop living, if that makes sense. No way am I going to stop doing the things I enjoy, even if they are somewhat risky.
My wife took issue with the snowmobile incident as the last straw...she noted that it wasn't the first time I've gotten myself stuck in snow and had to hope that someone would rescue me. She also pointed out that I always hunt alone, I drive way too fast, my work tends to get me on the receiving end of hate from unstable and violent people, and noted that I tend to go into dangerous places and look for trouble.
Of course, she's wrong about the last part, as I don't look for trouble. I just won't let anyone else dictate to me where and when I go to a place I want to go to and I think I can take care of myself if trouble arises.
But it really made me think about the idea of a death wish. If I had a death wish, I'd be dead. As far as I know, I'm not. In the last two years I watched my parents spend their final years in a nursing home, addled with dementia and unable to do the basic things that make us human. I've also seen them and others so afraid of the world that they basically live in a bubble for most of their lives.
I would rather die young than die old, if it means that dying old required me to never take the "risks" that my wife seems to loathe.
Granted, I don't have kids, so perhaps this fact results in my cavalier attitude about growing old.
Makes me wonder, though, whether folks with kids lead a more risk averse life when it comes to doing things that might get you hurt or dead.
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/MxuzdW7.jpg)
