40 Bucket List Activities for Me

Reblogged from a now defunct blog as I consolidate my writing. This is my bucket list. Enjoy! e

I’ve resisted writing a bucket list. It seems like once you have a physical list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket, it’s a race against time to get it done. There are a lot of published bucket lists on the internet. I subscribe to a blogger who writes about her adventures but also employs others to add articles about their check list. It makes for interesting reading. There is another bucket list you can join. Anyone can sign up for free and track their life’s goals. Well, putting it that way, it’s less of a bucket list and more of a goal sheet. These things include getting married, buying a house, and starting a business. It’s a less exciting list of things to do; not so much a quest as you would probably image when you hear the term “bucket list”. Remember the movie?

In recent years I have had a family situation that left me in serious pause as to my life; my brother was diagnosed with cancer. It’s my brother’s cancer but that adds to the family health history. Family health history can cause you to think about your time left on this Earth and the things you would like to accomplish while here. That being said, I decided to do a list for the second half of my life; yes, I’ve reached and now have passed the 50 mark. I am going into a new season of my life and my husband and I have been working on a new 5-year plan. In less than 5 years, our two boys should be out of college (hopefully). Neither my husband nor I were ones to hang around our parents’ houses after graduation so we don’t expect our kids to do that either. I know things can happen and change your plans but we are looking at 5 years, and most likely my sweetie and I will be empty nesters.

So, here’s my list of things I would like to do at some point between now and my last day here on Earth, given I have another 50 to accomplish them; or at least 20 or 30 with good health, of course I’m not in control that this. The list is in no specific order and some I hope to accomplish before the boys move out. When I accomplish something on this list, I’ll check them off or score through them with a date and I’m sure I’ll add several new things to this list as time goes by. For now, this is what I’d like to do.

My bucket is a beach bucket

The list may seem lame to some readers. They may be asking why not put “this” or “that” on the list? Well, it could be that I’ve done “that” and might not want to do “this.”

I’ve already owned a sailboat, raced sailboats on Chesapeake, lived on 2 islands, rode a bunch of rollercoasters, bodysurfed with a tropical storm nearby, had children, and been to the top of the Empire State Building. I’ve water skied, mountain climbed (Mt Mitchell), drove down a mountain without brakes (Mt Mitchell; I don’t recommend this), snow skied moguls, took ukulele lessons in Hawaii, went to a Carribbean island, volunteered for a bunch of children’s causes, been on a glass-bottom boat, walked across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, saw the Beach Boys 5 times in concert, Eagles 4 times. I’ve been to Disney World, NASA , Universal Studios, Niagra Falls and to Grossingers before it closed down. I attended a World’s Fair. I’ve been to every boutique winery in Virginia available before 1991 and golfed all but 5 miniature golf courses in Myrtle Beach available by 2003. I’ve driven from LA to Santa Barbara in the snow (true story; just flurries). I’ve seen the White House, Biltmore House, Monticello, Lincoln’s house, George Washington’s house, Falling Waters and toured Ford’s Theatre. I even believe I saw the Grey Man of Pawley’s Island, SC the day before a storm hit. Yes, I did put the patio furniture into the garage and glad I did. My neighbor’s furniture ended up in the lake behind our houses during that storm … I think you got the picture. So what remains (a work in progress as I think of new things) is the list below, with a definite theme:

Beachcomb the major beaches of the United States. I would like to comb at least one beach of each of the coastal states in the US including the beaches of the Great Lakes where I hear/read of great adventures and wonderful finds. I want to comb the shore of the Chesapeake Bay, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, too.
Drive Rte 6
Go on a mission trip with my family.
Whale watch
I have lovely friends from each of the states and towns I’ve lived in. I think I’ve talked about them all to each other, so some of them know each other through the great stories I’ve passed along. I would love to get these ladies together for a beach weekend and just have an awesome time. I’d like all of my friends to meet each other. Of course I’m not paying for everyone; just me unless I win the lottery. But you have to play to win and I don’t play. Sorry.
Learn to play the steel drum
A weekend in New York City between Thanksgiving and Christmas with my kids and husband would be awesome. Growing up in Maryland I was close enough to NY to get there between those two holidays. I’ve done the touristy things and would love for my guys and sweet hubby to share this experience with me.
Make wine
Cruise ships scare me. With the recent accidents and fires on board I am not interested in the possibility of getting stuck at sea when I’m not in control of the situation. So the big ship is out of question; however, I’d love a trip on a smaller sailing vessel as a crew member either around the Gulf of Mexico or down the Atlantic seaboard.
Tour the California Wine Country.
I want to publish a book. Working on it…
If I ever get to Europe, I’d have to comb the beaches there. So, beach combing European beaches is on my bucket list. I want to find some glass fishing floats, too.
I would like to have collected one of every sea shell available in North American. I’m really close to this goal.
I want to see as many North American species of birds throughout my life as I can. Any birds in other continents is lagnaippe, or a little something extra.
See the Great Barrier Reef in person
Hike the Appalachian trail or at least part of it…like a mile maybe, I’m not much of a hiker these days
Direct a documentary
Illustrate another book.
Beach comb a particular beach on Key West. A friend told me about a specific spot and I want to check it out.
Voice over a cartoon
See the Northern Lights
Visit Stonehenge
See the Easter Island heads
I’d love to have a wine named after me. “Eileen” is not exactly a catchy wine name so it would have to be something that reflects who I am or a nickname. It doesn’t have to be highly marketable, just named after me. I just want to drink one bottle and then put the other bottle on a display shelf. Of course, if it’s really a fine vintage, I’d like more than one bottle to consume.
Take a trip to Alaska. A friend told me about an experience she had kayaking near the glaciers that was so awesome. I also have a sweet friend who lives in Alaska I was hoping to visit but she’s moving back to the lower 48.
Go to Aspen Colorado during ski season just to hang out. I gave up skiing due to an injury (bummer) but can still hang out.
Go spelunking.
Podcast a radio show about stuff I like and actually have people that listen on a regular basis.
Visit to all the countries of Central America
Go to all of the US states that I haven’t yet been to. I’ve traveled 31 so far.
Find the missing ancestry information to link my family to Europe
Live on boat: sailboat or house boat.
Grow brussels sprouts (long stor
Visit Cuba
Snorkle
Digitize all of my photos
Mine for gems in North Carolina
Visit New Zealand
Travel on my beachcombing excursions in a restored VW bus, the one that’s retired or a classic Woody.
Buy a GoPro for my adventures.

Enough about me. What about you?

What do you really want to do with your life? Have you already done it? Are you half-way there? Have you even started on your path? What makes you tick? What makes you happy? Where do you want to be in 5 years? 10 years? Next year?

What’s on your bucket list?