Making a Bucket List

Bucket list is the term used to describe a list of activities, actions, or as yet unaccomplished events or desires in life, that have remained in the background due to competing priorities.

The movie "The Bucket List" brought attention to this activities for the most part due to the popularity of the actors portraying the main characters.  While very fun, funny and generally entertaining, the movie's premise was a very unlikely scenario for the average member of society.   Both characters were pretty old to put it mildly, diagnosed with terminal illness, one of the characters was extremely wealthy, etc., etc., etc.  The point I am trying to make is that you can make a Bucket List at any age, you don't have to be near death, and wealth while extremely helpful, doesn't have to be a factor. 

Your list can be sensible in every aspect:  doesn't have to include world travel, doesn't have to be death defying, etc.  Some of us may have unfulfilled dreams, or plans due to time constraints, (examples: raising a family, attending college, career demands just to mention a few).

I am going take a risk publicly and make a very sensible Bucket List for myself. It isn't by any means my ultimate list.  Matter of fact when I accomplish everything on my list, I will initiate a new one.  I will cross items off my list as I make progress, and will blog about the experience.  In the movie The Bucket List the deadline was understood to be; before I die, I will cross all the items off the list.  Since I am not fatalistic at all, and my health care provider regularly tells me that, I am so stable, and healthy that in regards to my medical condition, I am actually boring (she follows that statement with "Boring is good"). My list will have a short deadline.

The following items make up my list, and I will accomplish them by end of February 2014 or before: 

1. I will ride the city transit in my city by going to the mall shopping.  
2. I will go on a trip to a city 50 to 100 + miles one way by train.  
3. I will go to the top of the Seattle Space Needle, and enjoy a meal while there.  
4. I will go fishing on opening week 2013.  (I haven't fished since I was very young and living with my parents on the farm).  
5. I will acquire a classic muscle car.  (I cleared it with my wife).  
6. I will go target shooting at a firing range.  
7. I will visit the state of Texas where I spent my very early years, as part of research for a book I am writing.   
8. I will participate in at least 3 family reunions.  
9. I will take a week long vacation with my wonderful wife (destination of her choice).  
10. I will vacation in at least two beach resorts in  the States of Oregon, and California.

With regard to number 4 on the list, recently heard the very popular saying: Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day, teach him to fish and he will drink beer for a life time.  So if you think that my list is tame, I hope you can now appreciate the risks that I am taking.  

Have you been thinking about what you might want to do on your list?  I hope that my safe list will encourage you to consider what you may want to do that would be outside of you daily routine.  My next list might include swimming with sharks (don't hold your breath) but for now, it's a start.  

My goal/mission for being50.com is to encourage members to participate by either following my blog, and enjoying my journey through life: past, present and future.  Or even better yet to actively contribute by sharing your experiences, or your perspective on the subject of the day.  Join the group, and you will most likely find many like minded people to share commonalities with.  I invite you to stay tuned as I make progress on my bucket list.  

Future subjects will include:  a trip down memory lane and the wonderful world of 1950's and 60's television programs; muscle cars of the 50's, 60's, and 70's, and how they compare with present day muscle car rebirth.  Regardless of your interest, stay tuned cause the best is yet to come......