A Drop in the Bucket

I've been thinking a lot about my bucket list lately.

You know, that list of things you'd like to do/go/see before you die?

I've got a list going in my head. But, seeing as I've developed Alzheimer's over the last few years, I keep forgetting everything I want on it. Although I never do forget things I've done that were on the bucket list to cross off.

And sometimes I don't even know something belongs on the bucket list until I've done it and think, "Hey! That totally should have been on the bucket list."

This, in some ways, has been a year of crossing off things to do from the bucket list.

For instance, I got my passport - so simple right? And yet, it took me how many years to finally just do it? Yeah.

Subsequently, I used said passport. Not over the ocean or anything. But to Montreal where all the signs were in French. I even tried, occasionally, to speak French. I think that totally counts as a foreign country.

And! I'm so close to using said passport again to visit the Bahamas. So, you know, there's that.

But that's just scratching the surface.

I've certainly not done and seen everything I want to domestically. There is, after all, the world's largest ball of twine and stuff. But this world is huge. HUGE, I say.

And there is more than just Colorado/Wyoming/Utah/Nevada/California to be seen.

And so, starting right now, I'm putting my list together in earnest.

I'm limited to time off and funding, of course, but I'm going to get started.

First up? New Zealand in 2011. It's practically set in stone barring any unforeseen circumstances. That's the post-apoca-audit trip for next year. Oh yes, and there is Savannah, Georgia (domestic, duh) for St. Patrick's Day because I've heard it is QUITE the great time. Seeing a long lost soul sister is a bonus.

Next? My 40th birthday (mutherfrakking eek!) in the UK. England and Ireland and Scotland, here I come. There's no way to prepare for me. Just be ready for anything.

After that? I don't know. Greece is on the list (hi, Mom! We will totally get there). So is Prague, Italy, Croatia, Egypt, Costa Rica, Brazil. And, ohmygawd! New York still has to be done.

There are so many places to go, I don't know what I want to do first.

And the fact that I've waited for so long...waiting for what? A companion to go with me? The money? The time? Companions come and go. Who cares? I go to the movies alone. Is there a difference between that and, say, going to the Louvre alone? The money. It's called not quite so many gin & tonics and more saving. Totally can do. Time? That would fall under the stop-taking-time-off-for-stupid-reasons category and, while requiring a bit of practice, is completely doable.

I may not be able to jet off 6 times a year.

But! Starting now, right now, I'm going to start putting my spare pennies toward the Jane Must Travel fund.

Alone? Possibly. Again. Who cares? I think there will be something to be said about doing it alone.

A pilgrimage, if you will, to special places.

Bucket lists.

Start one. Work on one. Don't finish one.