I first heard the term "bucket list" from my in-laws. Not in reference to the movie, but to the fact that they had compiled a bucket list for themselves. Brilliant idea, I thought. And I didn't see why one had to be on the verge of kicking the bucket before such a list could be made. So I made one.
But mine has rules:
There can only be 3 items on the bucket list at a time. Having a million items on the list just makes the list silly. It's not a comprehensive "everything I want to do before I die" list. It's just a fun list, but even fun needs some perimetres.
The list can change. Should I decide that an entry no longer has priority, I can swap it out for a different one. But it has to be swapped - there still can only be 3.
That's it. Here's the list so far:
Embark on a Small Business Venture
There are many women who can't wait to stop working and start a family. I, however, am not one of them.
I absolutely love working. I know this because there was the year in which I voluntarily did not work. That was the year Chad and I have decided not to repeat. The following year, I went back to work.
At some point in time, I would love to mesh my personal interests with at least a part of my source of income. Idealistically, this could be through writing or any one of the art forms I love dabbling in.
Top 3 jobs?
#3 Researching for HowStuffWorks
#2 Writing. Fiction or non-fiction...it's all good.
#1 Doing artwork for a game (virtual or board).
Perform a Circus Art
I once heard someone say that they wanted to get fitter the older they got. My reaction? Yeah, I dig that. It may not be realistic, but at the very least, I do want to be the healthiest person I can be. And oddly enough, circus arts are the easiest exercise plan for me at the moment in terms of both time and interest. At the rate my handstands are going, I may end up being the oldest hooping acrobat in history. But even if I don't get there, it won't be because I didn't try.
Swim with Dolphins
There are several reasons why this has been defected. When Chad and I went to Tahiti on a honeymoon, we spent a good portion of the week snorkelling. After a few days of snorkelling, we got adventurous and started straying out further and further from the regular beach area. We found ourselves on the outside of the resort looking into a caged area. To my delight, a dolphin swam by on the other side. It caught sight of us and came right up to the bars. My delight soon turned to sadness as I watched it swim away and then come right back, almost bashing itself against the bars. This happened repeatedly: the swimming away, coming back again, over and over. Later, during my years studying animal behaviour, I was to learn that this was an exhibition of stress; an unnatural repetition of behaviour that is often seen in captive animals. But I didn't need anyone to tell me then. I could feel it.
Since then, I've become more aware of the commercialism of animal-keeping. It's a ridiculous thing to me, this human idea that we have any right to say we "own" any part of nature. But what can one person do except promise not to contribute to it?
One day, I may still swim with dolphins. But it'll be a fluke; a brief collision between my life and that of a wild animal. But I'm happy to let it be for now.
The other reason may have something to do with the fact that things just look scarier underwater.
Catch the Aurora Borealis from Alaska
No, the Aurora Australis will not do (not that I've seen it anyway).
Have Chickens
My two loves combined: animals and self-sufficiency. In the spring of 2010, a brand new chicken coop arrived at our property. Not long after came the first of its tenants, two brown shavers named Sam and Ella (ignominiously dubbed by Chad). Although I'd had to give up fostering dogs to have chickens, I soon found out what gift they were to me. Not only did they provide us with a dedicated egg supply, but they both possessed such personality that I would find myself entertained by them for hours.
After an unfortunate incident with a stray dog on our property, I lost Ella. Sam, my little survivor, fought on and became the leader to a new flock that I acquired not long after.
Since then, Sam has passed on, but my chicken-keeping continues and will probably stay that way for many years to come.
Backpack through Europe
I should specify that when this went on my bucket list, I had already done this at age 21. But back then, it had been a whim. This was different. This was deliberate, requiring saving, planning and even Italian lessons thrown in. Added to that, I wanted to experience it again with Chad. With our shared love for history, culture and general adventure, I suspected that he would be an ideal travelling partner. In October 2010, we hopped on various planes and trains and traversed the route from Germany to Italy backpacker-style. I cannot begin to describe the way it opened our eyes. But most significantly for the first time, I saw my husband in an environment when he is at his best: relaxed, full of energy and wonder, and excited for whatever challenge was going to be thrown at us next. Since then, all our trips have been coloured by this one and every time we go on holiday, I wonder if I'm going to catch a glimpse of Europe-Chad again. Needless to say, we are in the midst of planning for Europe, Part 2, hopefully coming soon in 2014!
