I tend to ask myself "will this enrich my life, or if I die doing it, would I feel really dumb?" Without regard to quantifying risks or benefits precisely. If

I tend to ask myself "will this enrich my life, or if I die doing it, would I feel really dumb?" Without regard to quantifying risks or benefits precisely. If I was at the proverbial gates of heaven talking to St. Peter, I would want to be able to say I wasn't grossly negligent in whatever sent me there. Meaning I took, not the optimal, but the customary precautions. I'm not sure that I truly understand the concept of comparing risks and benefits. If I do something risky, that's an abstract concept. In fact, either I die or I don't. If I don't, of course it was worth it. But how does that show the benefit was greater than the risk? Any risk that doesn't happen feels the same as any other. I have gone skydiving, and at the time, it seemed like an experience worth having. After the second time, it didn't any more. Part of the thrill, I guess, is the proximity to death if you don't perform the right actions at the right time, and I tend to screw up under pressure. I was conditioned early to always wear my seatbelt in a personal vehicle, but I don't think there is logic to it when I start comparing it to other risks. As a child I didn't wear a belt on the school bus, because nobody else did (or there weren't any). I think I've ridden on city buses that didn't have any, but I also have the impression that accident rates are really low for various reasons. As a freshman in college, I rode in the bed of a pickup truck, even though I was uncomfortable doing it. I prefer to be secure, but peer pressure could override that. When I'm on an airplane, I buckle my belt as instructed, but I think the decrease in risk is probably not logical justification, as the risk is already so low. And I have sometimes ridden motorcycles, so if that's a reasonable thing to do, then why not go unbelted in a car, if you like? I mean, except for, say, being ticketed. Do 3-wheeled vehicles that legally count as motorcycles have belts? I think I've read about airbag devices for motorcycles, which are interesting, but I don't really think they should be mandated and universal like with cars. I would very much like consistency and simplicity in rules in a particular area (like the pandemic), rather than continual murky arguments over what is optimal. I think it's ok to compartmentalize and not try to reconcile with all our other activities. Standing six feet apart and wearing masks in buildings open to the public is simple enough, but it's become complicated over time. Where I live, most businesses seem to have their employees wearing masks, but the customers generally aren't. I too, am required to wear a mask at work. I dislike spending thought on what arbitrary thing to do in daily life. Simple rules that lead to a harmonious daily life are better than obsessing over what is perfect or optimal. That is my belief.