You will argue the point but since I believe you are happy in your life, why change a thing. Change a path and perhaps all that occurred might not have follow. The what if game remains a game and nothing more and ought to stay as such.
There is an early Rod the Mod Stewart song featuring Woody and Pre-ELP Keith Emerson that captures the sentiment: "I Wouldn't Ever Change A Thing" http://tiny.cc/n5yevw.

I have to say that I struggle with this question because to say that I would change something implies, to me, that I am not grateful enough for my life today or for the people in my life. I think we make choices and we should embrace them because they got us here today. And most of us reading this have it pretty good.
'
Now that I have spewed all that feel good, acceptance stuff, I would say I wish I had planned better financially.
The yang-If I did I would have forfeited some experiences that have given me so much pleasure and memories.......
The shoudda, coudda, road is not path I am comfortable taking.

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/555787_583283178358290_966963748_n.jpg

It has nothing to do with your blog, but it's fitting.

Your calling, indeed, has spawned the most amazing group of professionals and friends I greatly treasure.

You should be so proud of all the good you inspired others to do via Gotham, much adds more to our well-being than playing center field on ANY team, even the Yankees,
OR
...
...
....
(dare I say it!?),
the Batmen.

I should have been a journalist and not a lawyer.

When I read this blog I hear Frank Sinatra singing "Regrets I've had a few, but then again too few to mention". After all, I did do it "my way". I wouldn't want it any other way.

a lot

I would be more relaxed, a little crazier, and love more

I wanted to be a professional football player

OH... I also would have started networking a whole lot earlier!!!!

After 41-1/2 years, I'm still learning about you. If I had to do it all over, I'd come to work for you again, though just maybe I'd take you up on your suggestion to go to law school, and I'd be an advocate for all the homeless dogs & cats. Wait, I do that already! So what's the question?

If I had to do it all over again, I would have played more, lightened up at a younger age---and slept more!! I would have learned the art of napping ;)
I am exactly where I want to be...still evolving--
Life is good.

From Gary Korbel:

May not be too late to do it but I think so. I am a Pisces and drawn to the water, have been staring at H20 beneathe my feet for as long as I can remember. While I have had my own boat (just recently sold after 20 years) and avidly fish on others I always wanted to charter captain a nice Sport Fishing boat in the Caribbean. The particular island doesn't matter (Virgin Gorda comes to mind). The thrill of taking newly marrieds fishing on those gin clear waters would be a dream. After a day out on the seas jump off the boat, grab a beer, some conch, maybe ceviche and let the world go away. My own boss, no trains, no tailgating drivers no rush.

Sounds dreamy!

you're blessed all around :)

I am a fatalist. I believe things happen for a reason. My father begged me to go to law school and I said I don't want to be a lawyer. I should have listened and I wouldn't necessarily have practiced law. My Dad was an accountant who went into his father's insurance brokerage business to save it. He went to law school at night under the GI Bill when I was an infant and never practised law. I have a masters degree and spent some time in Social Services agencies where I didn't belong. As soon as I completed my assignment, I was given someone else's, etc. I went back into the family business where I had quite a bit of difficulty getting along with my mother. When my father sold the business as he was dying, I took my accounts and went on the search for the honest broker. That took several tries. I believe life is a process and somewhat like a tunnel. Once you start to go through the tunnel, you have to continue. You can't turn around.

Fred, we would have all missed a great deal without your creativity - not to mention good friendships and business connections. I belong to the "Make a Friend School of Networking" and did so before Gotham (pre 2004). Now I just have that many more friends. The Mantra is Sweet Sixteen. Long live its' Co-Founder!

I too am somewhat of a fateilist. If I chnaged major decisions in my life I may not have meet my wife and than I would not have got my son. I don't t hink you can look to the past and say what if (even thought I do sometimes), but you should try to look forward and say what will I do next. Tom Gallin

I don't want to be a lawyer either. I just am interested in learning the law. Congrats Nancy. It's about time your name when on the mantle!

What an intriguing thought Fred...Funny how we come to these thoughts these days. It's Hollander by the way. Look...First I would have married your wife if she would have kissed me on the night of the Senior Prom. Actually I should have kissed HER! Can you imagine how are lives would be so different now ? Ofcourse aside from that I should have married my third wife the first time and had seven kids with her instead of seven with three different woman. I just retired last Friday for the second time. 40 years with American Airlines as a senior Captain and then flying a private jet for Neil Armstrong. Good life. My last flight was taking Tim McGraw and Faith Hill to the American Country Music awards last Friday. On third thought I should have married Faith Hill....I'd trade it all in to have been a Yankee for life. I remember smelling Yogi's baseball card for a whiff of the bubble gum before I went to bed every night. I proudly display an autographed Mickey Mantle baseball signed in August of 1995 the month he died. I cried. In retrospect I was away from home in lonely 5 Star hotels for almost half my life. I wanted to be a Veterinarian. I too got sidetracked by the war in Viet Nam. So Fred...It's been a pleasant addition in my life to get to know you again and in the NOW. You are a mench !! Gene Woodling #14 in Left. The Mick #7 in Center. Hank Bauer #9 in Right. Andy Carey #6 at 3B. The Scooter #10 at SS. Bobby Richardson #1at 2B and Joe Collins #15 at 1B. Yogi #8 behind the plate . Whitey Ford, Allie Reynolds, Johnny Kucks, Vic Rashi, etc. on the mound !! Boo Yah !!!

I would have won the lottery.

I was really lucky to get the skills to do what I love. For the majority of my career I was a happy #2 in 3 professional firms where I was Office manager and had a wife variety of duties. I love to be support--to help a strong, smart guy run his company. And I've been well compensated and worked with some great people. I'm also lucky in the men I've had in my love life--fantastic men. I tried getting married twice, but picked the wrong guys--much happier as things are now. Being single agrees with me. Too I have a great family and a few long-term loving friends. There's not much I would have done differently, except for marrying my two husbands. It wasted some of my life. All in all, I'm really happy with each of the "chapters" in my life.

Do the most with what you have from where you are. Grateful that you & Nancy "now on the masthead" Schess decided to start this gift called Gotham. Wouldn't change a thing.

Of course, Monday morning quarterbacking creeps in every now and then. But, I prefer to relish the present rather than wallow in the past. A special element of my present is the Tribe. Thank you, Fred! Thank you, Nancy! And, thank you, Kelly Welles, for initiating me!

Are we to judge our own posts by choosing "positive", "Negative", or "Neutral"?