Bucket List – First Installment. More to come.

I’m constantly working on my version of a Bucket List, adding to, deleting from, modifying it. And I’ve checked off quite a few items. I’ll mention some of them here, just in case you are looking for ideas. Keep what suits you and discard the rest. These are only ideas, meant to stimulate your own senses of imagination and adventure. I readily admit, some of these ideas are better done while one is young, but there is no reason not to modify them to fit your requirements. Sort of like “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is now.”

*Check with your physician before attempting anything that might be strenuous. (I had to say that.)

Reinvent yourself. You’ve worked hard. Supported a family. Sacrificed all your life. This is YOUR time now. Give yourself permission to do whatever you want. You’ve earned it. Don’t concern yourself about whether or not anyone else approves. It’s ok to ignore and not care what anyone else thinks.

Overcome your fears. Prepare yourself to face them. Take one step outside your comfort zone. Then another. Get comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable. All growth occurs outside your comfort zone.

Teach yourself to become spontaneous. The unaimed arrow always finds its target.

Eliminate the extra weight that’s accumulated over the years. It may seem overwhelming, but there are people out there who were overwhelmed, but made the choice to believe and invest in themselves and are losing a hundred pounds or more.

Achieve a better level of fitness and health. I’m thankful I’ve found a program that works for me, and that allows me to help others reclaim their lives as I reclaim my own. I’m grateful for the supportive community that lifts me up and supports me on my journey to a healthier life. If and when you are ready, contact me and I’ll help you get started.

Learn another language. I think it would be a wonderful thing to learn sign language, and make new friends who are hearing impaired. This is on my bucket list. I intend to get started soon. In fact, I’ll make a commitment right now, March 25, 2023 that I will start learning the basics between now and April 1^st. That’s how you get things done. You make a decision, and do it. It’s all a matter of commitment, managing your time.

Get a job in a new field. Some of us will continue to work out of necessity. Others by choice. Just because you are retired doesn’t mean you have to be turned out to pasture. Now is your opportunity to pursue virtually anything you want to do.

Take up gardening. There is a lot of satisfaction to be had from raising your own vegetables. And of course there is the added benefit of reducing your food costs. If you freeze or can veggies, they can last the entire year.

A flower garden can spruce up your home and you can do some research to learn what plants attract butterflies to add beauty and tranquility to your backyard.

Learn to play a musical instrument. I’ve always thought it would be fun, and I have now just begun learning to play the banjo. You can find used instruments at reasonable prices, and pay or exchange goods or services for lessons.

Break a bad habit. If you’re like me, that should read, ‘break bad habits.’ Plural. Replace them with new, good habits that will serve you well. Stack the new, desirable habits and before you know it, you’ve made positive changes in your life.

Become a writer. Learn the craft. There are many good books on the subject of writing. I’ve found that although there may be some contradiction from one book to another, there is usually something I can take and use from each. And it’s worth noting that sometimes both viewpoints might be helpful at different times. It’s more about what works for you at any given moment, not about right vs. wrong. Start writing – anything. A writer writes.

Create a blog.

Write short stories.

Write How-to articles or booklets.

Write that novel. How many times have you walked out of a movie, or finished a book and said, ‘I could have written something better than that’?

We all have stories buzzing around in our heads.

Ideas are all around us. People. Circumstances. Events. And let’s face it, truth is stranger than fiction these days.

Write a screenplay. From what I’ve learned, it might be more advisable to write the story, and find an agent who will option it off to Hollywood. They can employ their own screenwriters, or maybe you can persuade them to hire you.

Nothing wrong with self-publishing, but I caution you: Beware of vanity presses. They will charge you money to print your book, regardless of its quality (or lack of) and in the end it will be up to you to do the marketing.

Join writers associations. I have for several years now belonged to the Florida Writers Association and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Association. They have annual conferences, where writers of all genres and experience levels get together to enjoy one another’s company and listen to expert presentations on a variety of subjects. You might even meet an agent who is willing to look at your work.

Join Facebook groups for writers. Here you can exchange thoughts and helpful information with other writers.

Become a Public Speaker

For fun.

For pay.

Get the training. Join Toastmasters. Join local speakers groups and associations.

Once you are ready to be a fee-paid speaker, there are agencies that can find you engagements.

Take the time to learn the IRS and state laws regarding pay when you speak in another state or country.

Other ways to pursue public speaking include: Podcasts, Vlogs, and YouTube videos.

I had no desire to be a public speaker, but a friend insisted I deliver the eulogy at his memorial service when his time came. To top it off, he said, “And I want you to be funny!” Reluctantly, and with a lot of fear, I agreed. I personally overcame my fear of public speaking by joining Toastmasters. A few years later, I spoke at my friend’s memorial service. I wasn’t his only friend. It was standing room only. I took a deep breath, and for the sake of my friend, dived in. I did my very best, bringing up memories we shared growing up together. And yes, I made his mother laugh.

Become an auctioneer. This is a rather unconventional way of becoming a public speaker, but it’s fun and it pays. I worked as an auctioneer for a while several years ago. I learned how to do it by attending the Missouri Auction School in Kansas City.

Become a substitute teacher, and/or a mentor. If you have the patience, this could be a rewarding experience, an opportunity to help young people.

Be a guest lecturer.

Start Hiking to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, shed weight, improve your health and overall outlook on life. Around home. Local Parks. Camping and hiking. Hiking vacations.

I have accepted a challenge, and this month, April 2023, I will Walk the Maui Half-Marathon. *Update: When I got to Maui, I was experiencing a lot of back pain, so I only did the 5K, but it was still a great experience.)

Hike Pike’s Peak. I live in Colorado Springs, and I can see Pike’s Peak from my deck. So naturally, this is on my bucket list. I at least want to go as high as the Barr House, and from there, I’d like to go up to the tree line. The elevation at the summit is over 14,110 feet above sea level, so I’ll have to see how my body is holding up. It would be cool to say that I made it to the top.

Hike the Pacific Crest Trail.

Hike the Appalachian Trail.

Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas, in southern Peru. This is on my bucket list. Whether I hike it or not isn’t so important to me as just going there.

Go to the Great Wall of China.  

Hike the Grand Canyon.

In 1982, Marsha and I were vacationing in the western United States. One of the points of interest that we visited was the Grand Canyon. We decided on a whim to hike to the bottom, spend the night at the Phantom Ranch, and then hike back out the following day. Keep in mind that although we had done absolutely no prior conditioning to prepare ourselves for the physical challenges of such an undertaking, we were only 28 years old at the time, so it worked out ok.

The older I get, the better I was. Now that I am in my senior years, I would spend a few months doing some serious hiking to get myself ready.

The hike down was a lot of wear and tear on the joints, but we didn’t mind all that much. The views were incredible. The trail was well maintained. Most of the way, the trail is wide and not at all frightening. But there were a few places where it did narrow considerably for short stretches. We were passed by a group of mule riders on one of the wide sections.

At risk of exposing myself as a jerk, I will confess to you that I played a trick on Marsha. There are no restroom facilities along the trail – at least there weren’t in 1982 – so you kind of have to make do with what Mother Nature provides. There was a rather large boulder on the side of the trail. Marsha had been carrying the camera, and was in charge of getting the photos. She handed me the camera and said, “Wayne, I have to pee.”

Be honest. What would you have done?

I waited patiently as she went behind the boulder, pulled her shorts down, and squatted. Then, once I was certain she was past the point of no return, I started singing, “When it’s least expected, you’re elected. You’re the star today. SMILE! You’re on Candid Camera!” and aimed.

There are ground squirrels in the Grand Canyon.

One in particular didn’t want to go all the way down to the river to get a drink, and had figured out that this was a popular spot for hikers to take advantage of cover provided by the rock and relieve themselves. Just as I was about to snap the photograph, the squirrel ran up to Marsha and started drinking. She could do nothing but scream and try to shoo the squirrel away. I have never before or since taken a higher quality photograph. Unfortunately, a few months after the pictures came back, this one particular photo was somehow “lost”.

I should probably be ashamed of myself, but it was too funny. Does that make me a bad person? We used a disposable camera, but I recommend you consider bringing along a high-quality camera.

After several hours of hiking, we arrived at the Phantom Ranch. We ate a nice meal there before retiring for the night. Sometime during the wee hours, I heard some rustling outside the bunkhouse. I thought it was the staff getting up early to get breakfast going, so I didn’t let it concern me. After a while, I decided to get up and use the facilities. I walked outside, turned the corner, and immediately saw the source of the rustling I’d heard. Not three feet directly in front of me was a skunk. We both stopped dead in our tracks, hesitating, summarizing the threat we represented to one another. After a couple seconds, we both turned and went our own separate ways without incident.

That bit of excitement behind me, I made use of the public restroom and returned to my bunk. A couple hours later, breakfast was served, we were issued sack lunches to eat on the trail during our ascent backup to the top, and we were on our way.

As I said before, the hike down was hard on our joints. The hike back up was hard on our muscles. We just kept plodding along, putting one foot in front of the other. We were ok until we stopped. As we drove from the South Rim to Flagstaff, where we spent the night, we stiffened up. Enough so that going up one flight of stairs to our second floor hotel room seemed nearly impossible. Our thighs in particular “felt the burn.”

The trail we hiked was the Bright Angel Trail which is on the south side. I want to go back to hike the north side, but it will seem strange doing it without Marsha. I’ll be sure to say a prayer for her on the rim and again at the bottom.

If you are going to do it, put in some time conditioning, building up strength and endurance. I suppose I should also say consult your physician before attempting any activity that is physically challenging.

 Be sure to have a hat that will shade your face and neck, and a loose-fitting, long-sleeve shirt. Depending upon what time of year, you might want gloves, long pants, and a jacket. And of course, a good pair of hiking shoes or boots. I also recommend a good quality walking stick. Bring along sunscreen, lip balm, toilet paper, sanitary wipes, trash bags, snack bars and water bottles to carry in your backpack. Be aware that you are expected to pack out everything you bring in.  

To obtain information about required permits and lodging accommodations available on both the South Rim and the North Rim, as well as the Phantom Ranch, go to

https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/lodging.htm

There are a wide variety of trails to choose from. Take a look at

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/arizona/grand-canyon-national-park

to determine which appeals most to you.

Hike the Appalachian Trail.

I have a friend who hiked the AT a couple years ago. It takes several months, and you have to be in good shape to accomplish this monumental task.

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail is probably not as difficult as the AT, but it is not without its own unique challenges.

Take up horseback riding

Horses are beautiful. We all have our own opinions, but for me, the only animal that comes close to matching a horse’s beauty is a deer.

You can ride trails alone, or go camping and trail riding with other horse friends. You can love them, and they love you back. (Not like a dog, though.) Who wouldn’t want a horse?

Some of the best friends I’ve ever known, I met through our mutual love of horses. No one in our family would want to give up the experiences that came with living in the country and having our own horses.

Our family has ridden our own horses on trails in local and state parks when we lived in Indiana. We also rode with outfitters who supplied the horses and tack in Alaska, New Zealand, and the Canadian Rockies. Beautiful scenery.

Own and Operate a Horse Farm

Most people are content to just have a couple of horses, but there are those that want to go all in. I would suggest starting out small. Dip your toes in the water before you dive in head first.

Check out my post: “Top 3 Reasons Baby Boomers (or Anyone!) Might NOT want to Own and Operate a Horse Farm.