The Bucket List

What exactly is a bucket list? I am sure many of you may have seen the 2007 film The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. For those of you who have not or are not familiar with the expression, according to Merriam-Webster, the definition of a bucket list is:

-a list of things that one has not done before but wants to do before dying

I try to not think of it quite so intertwined with “before death”, but more so as the things in life I still aspire to experience. Do you have a bucket list? Have you ever thought about it? When I think about it, I try to keep it organic. True things I would like to experience regardless of cost or barriers that may prohibit me from doing it one day.

My bucket list is a work in progress. Meaning I continue to add to it in the hopes of crossing off items one at a time…primarily when work won’t get in the way. My bucket list so far:

• to travel through every coastal state in the US in an RV with the love of my life. No plan, no timetable. Those always seem to turn out to be the most fun. When there is no specific plan. And if you knew me, you would know that I always have a plan, always have a list and that I only like to work off of 7 to 10 days notice on everything.
• to travel to the South Pacific and experience at least one night in one of those glass bottom huts over the ocean. I always planned that a South Pacific cruise would be my retirement gift to myself. More recently my retirement trip has turned into that US coastal camping trip. Its funny how things change over the years. But that’s ok. Its MY bucket list.
• to spend at least one holiday season (Christmas and New Years) on a cruise. Destination not so important. All friends welcome to join!
• to drink a bottle of Dom Perignon. I gifted a cousin a bottle once when he got married. I’d like a taste for myself.
• to experience the spectacular northern lights.
• to experience the beauty of an incredible Hawaiian surf wave.
• to travel Europe and visit my husband’s parents birth place: the former Yugoslavia.
• to take a cooking class in Italy.
• Christmas and New Years in New York City.
• To see baby turtles hatch.
• to visit as many lighthouses as I can find in my lifetime.
• to meet Martha Stewart or Gordon Ramsay… I have eaten at Hell’s Kitchen a few times, but no Gordon Ramsay…yet. Okay, I admit this one sounds a bit hokey, but again, this is MY bucket list!
• to enjoy Sting and Bon Jovi at least one more time in concert.
• to write that kids book that has been percolating in my mind for over 20 years thanks to Mrs. Pearls (the fictional character my daughter and I created when she was in elementary school).
• to eat in a 3 star Michelin restaurant.
• to walk into and experience the calm and peacefulness of as many places of worship as I can in my lifetime (inspired by a church in Puerto Vallarta and reinforced by a church in Puerto Rico)
• to find the smoothest shot of Tequila….this one may take some time.
• to win big in Vegas, just once (yes, I know this one is selfish).
• to find the most spectacular sunset EVER. So far the one that sticks out in my mind was on a trip to Santiago de Cuba in my 20s. I’ll keep looking for it!

I am confident that I will add to this list as I am still young and fearless at 55 with so many more life experiences to enjoy. I will try to live by the expression that it’s not the destination, but the journey to get there!

What’s on your bucket list?