Egad.
On the contrary. You are, as we all know, the spark plug on which this ET motor runs.
You are also the person here whom I most admire- whose knowledge I would most like to have.
I was sharing with you the experiences from my life that most altered my world view, Jerome. I made the assumption that they might be similarly valuable to you. Or suggest your own answer.

And I too am much more at ease with books. Perhaps that's why it was so important to me to go beyond them.

And being happily married does not erase the ability to appreciate loveliness--n'est pas?

Capitalism searches out the darkest corners of human potential, and mainlines them.