Moved down here @ 14 and got to shoot some 22 rifles, some shotguns, and some of my father's cowokers handguns. Been hooked ever since, and joined the Army 3 years later.
I've held a level of suspicious alertness for a good while, or at least I thought I had. When I joined the Army, and we trained for MOUT, that alertness went straight through the roof. It hasn't lowered much if at all, since then. My wife thinks I'm paranoid, I think I'm careful. She grew up a pacifist(Jehovah's Wintess) and still is. She's glad she has me around though.
Recently I got married and decided that since protecting my family was 24/7/365 deal, I should prepared just the same. So I started the online application for my CHL back in the fall. Never really pushed for it, rarely had any time. Then, this spring, I had to move for my job and found myself in a less than "pristine" area of Garland/Mesquite. I found myself wishing I had a weapon on me besides the omnipresent folding combat knife I carry. Now my packet is in the mail, and I have a 45ACP 1911 at the house. My wife has also agreed to carry OC - which is a huge step for her.