This is last week's high five

1. What's the most daring thing you've ever done?

I quit my job, sold 90% of my posessions, and moved to England so my husband could pursue his post-graduate studies at Oxford University. This, like most risky things I've done in my life, was prompted by Andrew.

I've done some really bad risky stuff when I was younger. I was very depressed for a while and was a cutter and seriously considered suicide many times. In college, I drove some guy I'd just met (and who I honestly believe was a serial killer I narrowly avoided being victimized by) to Iowa for like $50. But I didn't do those things for the thrill of the dare. I did them because I was stupid and self-destructive. So I don't consider them very "daring."

2. What one thing would you like to try that your mother/friend/significant other would never approve of?

I would like to live on a boat. A big, beautiful sailboat. I'd love to live on one full time and be a writer. Andrew doesn't want to live on the water full-time, though, and worries about our cats' safety. I care about the approval of me, Andrew and God. I also value my sister's opinion and, depending on the situation, my dad's. Short of that, I don't care what people think about my decisions too much. I am often curious, but don't really care. In fact, many of the major decisions I've made in my life have been frowned on by my mother (going away to college my first year, being with Andrew at first, quitting journalism, going to England), but I am very happy with all of those.

3. On a scale of 1-10, what's your risk factor? (1=never take risks, 10=it's a lifestyle)

I'm a pussy. Like probably a 2. I don't go in for extreme anything. That's for physical danger. For the more cerebral stuff, I'm more of a 5 or 6. Andrew has inspired me to follow my bliss, so sometimes that means doing nutty things like quitting my job. I am also a very risk-taking teacher who never teaches from the prescribed textbook lessons, so there I'm probably a 9 or 10.

4. What's the best thing that's ever happened to you as a result of being bold/risky?

I got to live in England for a year with my husband. I met some wonderful friends, learned a great deal, got a new perspective on life, wrote a novel . . .

5. ... and what's the worst?

Panic attacks, mostly. Running out of funding in Oxford and having to spend a whole lot of money moving back was a bad thing, but not necessarily a direct result of our going there. And, in the case noted in #1, possibly narrowly avoiding a serial killer's grasp.