BUCKET LISTS

Do you have a Bucket List?  I never thought too much about it until recently.  It seems everything you read or listen to lately has a connection  to someone's bucket list.  I guess I don't have a bucket list because I always joking said I wasn't going anywhere when my time came.  I have way too much living to do to even think about dying.

But now I find myself thinking about what I would put on a bucket list.  I am not a physical type person so I don't plan on climbing Mt Everest.  I can barely climb stairs.  My younger sister told me to stop climbing like an old person.  Well, I have news for her.  I am an old person, and I've always been afraid of stairs.  I certainly have no desire to jump out of an airplane.  I grip my husband's hand on take offs and landings as it is.  When it is bumpy, I look around to see if any one else is worried.  So there is no grand physical accomplishment in my future. 

Oh I make physical goals.  Last winter, my goal was to walk from one end of the beach to the other.  Did it.  Another was to walk across the bay bridge both ways.  Did that too and felt pretty smug about it. 

I love to travel and have been lucky enough to see most of the places I wanted to see.  There are a few that are still on my list like Australia and New Zealand.  But I am not sure I could endure the long flights.  One of the trips that I have always wanted to take (so maybe a bucket list item) is a train trip through the Canadian Rockies.  We are doing that in September.

I know people who have travel goals such as seeing all the baseball parks or all the botanical gardens.  But that is too regimented for me.  I like to decide on a whim where my next trip will be. 

There are loftier goals that I could set like being remembered for my good deeds, but I will be the first to admit that I am too selfish to be a true do-gooder.  I am not willing to sacrifice my time and energy just to be honored on my death.  I am a haphazard volunteer, helping out when it suits me.  I have volunteered quite a bit over the years, but on my terms.

I have many goals for my family.  I would like to see them happy and financially secure when I leave this earth (not yet please) but I have found out over the years, that is not in my control.  I can contribute to their happiness, and Lord knows, I have contributed to their finances.  But in the end, it is up to them.  You cannot will someone to be happy, and I have come to the conclusion that some people will never be financially secure.

So I guess my bucket list is short.  I want to live out my life relatively healthy.  And I want to have my husband around so we can continue to travel, enjoy each other and our family.  I am blessed to have a life that leaves me wanting very little and believe me I thank my lucky stars every day.