Thanks, Kc. I agree with you re: how fear makes you sharper. For what it's worth, and it might just be my personality type, I find that I'm far more tuned in and careful when I'm out on my own rather than when I'm with other people. Having someone else to rely on means I get a little careless. Having no one else to rely on means whatever happens, I got there on my own — for better or worse...