I have always imagined myself as a curious raconteur who finds a story in everything. I love people, adventure, bikes, and above all else, a well written sentence. My foible is that I prefer packing a story with knowledge, so that when the tale ends and the characters in the reader's mind slip away the knowledge remains - and knowledge is power. 
Therefore, a story is not merely just that - it is much more. It is a life, a learning, a journey - it's what the characters have gained in their whole lives.!