Trusting your gut is always #1, but 'round here in tiny Applebachsville - where there are so many characters it's like Northern Exposure in Pennsylvania - a guy hanging around while I fixed something most likely thinks he's doing a good turn looking out for me while I'm stopped roadside, preventing real evildoers from bothering me.

The rural-ride situation that pushes my fight/flight button? if a vehicle, especially a van, stops ahead of me on a deserted road, I make a u-turn and beat it.

The car window story reminds of a time I lived in Oakland, Ca and had an art studio in a neighborhood with a terrible reputation. I had no sooner locked the door and turned on the lights when there was a knock on the door. I froze and decided not to answer, as I was alone (didn't usually go alone at night.) The knocks continued, eventually getting insistent, along with a deep loud voice yelling, " C'mon, lady, I know you're in there!" OK, I thought, time to beat it upstairs and ask the neighbor to call the cops. 3 more knocks, and the voice says, "Lady, I just want to tell you you left your keys in the door."

I had. A 6'4" man handed me my keys and gently said, "Let's be a little more mindful, shall we?"