It seems to me that WHAT we have done, WHERE we have been, WHO we have been with, and HOW we deal with life partially defines WHO we are. Like the sticker kinda says: "We all are an example to others, I choose to be a BAD one." Or something like that...
Anyway, I was born and raised in the Portland, OR area (Oregon City, Milwaukie) and right after High School (1966)went to off the U.S. Coast Guard. One of the things I initially enjoyed (note: FrierJohn) I was invited to join the Coast Guard Band, playing the T-Bone - great fun until I got transferred. Beyond that I spent 8 years active duty from bouncing around in the North Atlantic to the North Pacific oceans. My last 3 years of Active duty were spent at a Motor Lifeboat Station in Brookings, Oregon (now a bit of a shambles after Japans earthquake) Went into the Merchant Marine as Chief Engineer on Seagoing Tugs (back to the Gulf of Alaska). Decided to get back to land, went to college, got my degree in Electronics and ended up back in the C.G. Reserves. I spent the next 19 years in the Reserves, was a Reserve Instructor at the National Motor Lifeboat School at the mouth of the Columbia River and Training Officer in other units. Retired in 1995 as a Chief Warrant Officer. Also, in the civilian world during those years, was able to enhance the statistics of "re-organization, job redundancy, position eliminated, etc." and generally, lengthening my resume'. THEN I found WOOD. Have been working with wood for a little over 10 years now and enjoying it more than any other vocation (other than Coast Guard Life Saving). Found it a lot more fun to make a bunch of saw dust and see what's left over, than making a higher stack of paperwork.
I've been riding since 1972, starting with a BSA. Got into a Dirt Bike Club in '75 and still helping with Communications (Ham Radio - FJ7FH)and First Aid Coordination at our races.
My wife (of over 42 years) and I enjoy our dogs, of which she shows and runs various performance trials. She shows dogs, I go riding (seems fair). 2 son's, 2 grand children, lawn mower, etc...
Bottom line: over the last 63 years I have found that my personal definition of success and more to the point of WHO I am, may be sumarized as follows:

"Success to me is freely creating excitment in my life with the courage to confront risks and to seize each day with intensity while sharing and caring for those around me."

Beyond that: I ride a Triumph - therefore I am!

I'm speeding because I have to get there before I forget where I was going.