More bucket list items
Learn to fly
Few things a person can do will provide the sense of adventure and satisfaction that one experiences when learning to fly an airplane. I was 19 years old, attending the local junior college and looking for a job. I’d always been fascinated by airplanes, so on a whim I drove out to the Olney-Noble Airport in rural Richland County, Illinois. Earl Smith was the airport manager, and the owner of Triangle Air Service. It wasn’t a big operation by any stretch of the imagination. Earl employed three pilots besides himself, providing flight instruction, pipeline patrol, and air taxi service. A full-time mechanic maintained Earl’s fleet of new Piper single and multi-engine aircraft, as well as for privately owned aircraft. T-hangars were available for rent, and aviation fuel was available at the pump. Upstairs was a small restaurant. That was it.
I spoke for a few minutes with Earl, and he hired me on the spot. I was the new “line boy”. It was my job to fuel and clean the airplanes, park them in the hangar for the night, help out with mowing the grass, and when needed. Oh, and feed Earl’s bird dogs. Earl and his son Ed loved to hunt quail and pheasant. He kept his dogs there at the airport, in small houses a few feet from the base of the rotating beacon.
That was mid-May of 1973. In less than 2 weeks, I was spending all my hard-earned wages on flying lessons. And my life would never be the same. I soloed on Friday the 13th of July, and by December, shortly after my 20th birthday, I earned my Private Pilot license. Little did I know how far I would go because of my love of flying.
If you have the desire, I say go for it. There are a number of excellent flight schools throughout the country where you can begin training. The first step in your quest to become a pilot would be to contact one or more schools, to determine which is the best fit for you.
At some point, prior to your first solo, you will need to pass a medical examination with an FAA approved Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). Here is a link to help you locate an AME near you:
https://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator
There is nothing to prevent you from taking lessons (also referred to as dual instruction) prior to getting your medical. You just have to obtain the medical prior to acting as pilot in command, which would be the case during student pilot solo flights, and then later to exercise the privileges of your Private Pilot certificate. I recommend that you get the medical out of the way asap in order to determine if you can pass it before you spend a lot of money. Definitely before you pay in advance for an entire course. (Which, for a number of reasons, I would be reluctant to do anyway.)
Over the years, I have flown jets throughout the U.S. and Canada, and crossed oceans forty thousand feet above the surface enroute to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. But none of that gave me the thrill I experienced as a young man in small airplanes a couple thousand feet above the ground. And your first solo flight … NEVER will you have such a sense of freedom.
Learn to fly a drone
I retired from flying I 2010, but always thought I’d find my way back into a cockpit sooner or later. Either as a professional pilot or flying for myself. That hope was shattered a few years ago when I experienced an eye stroke which left me blind in my right eye.
I’d never heard of an eye stroke, but now I know that it happens when a blood clot forms in the artery that supplies blood to the eye. In my case, I fell asleep on the couch while watching TV. Thirty minutes later, I woke up, blind in one eye.
At first I wasn’t alarmed. I’d had previous experiences when my vision would get blurry, and it always came back as good as before. But not this time. The lack of oxygen caused irreparable damage to the retinal tissue. All I have left is total darkness in about 60% of my field of vision for that eye, and a dark blur for the remaining portion. Thank goodness I can still see with my left eye. I try not to worry about it happening again with my remaining functional eye, but of course, it’s always in the back of my mind. Meanwhile, I still drive and live a normal life.
From what I’ve since learned, I might have had some hope of restoring my vision if I’d immediately begun doing an eye massage, and gone directly to the Emergency Room. Instead, I gave it half an hour to see if the vision would return before calling my son-in-law to take me to the ER. Time lost and a big cost.
Time is one of my favorite subjects, and I will be commenting on it a lot in upcoming posts.
With regard to flying, I recently interviewed for a position as a ground school and simulator instructor with an airline. I would need to obtain a type rating for the aircraft I would be training pilots to fly, and in order to get my type rating I would need to get a FAA medical certificate. I thought that would be no problem – I’ve known at least three other pilot friends who were able to get a waiver of demonstrated ability and went on to fly with only one eye.
What I learned was, because my loss of vision was the result of a stroke event, I would have to wait two years after the stroke to even begin the process. Once begun, it would probably take another year, and even then, it was doubtful it would be approved. I was quite disappointed by that bit of news. And the airline was not interested in hiring me solely as a ground instructor. I’m not getting back into a cockpit any time soon.
But, I still love flying. So, after giving it some thought, I purchased a drone. I can still fly. Yes, with my feet on the ground. But it’s flying. I’m thinking I can use the drone to get some cool photos to go along with my blog posts. Maybe do a little aerial photography and pick up a few bucks that way.
Bottom line is, flying a drone is fun! And it requires you to acquire some new skills and knowledge. There are specific regulations pertaining to drones, and licensing requirements if you want to do it commercially. A Google search can get you on your way with accredited online ground schools to prepare you for your written test.
Fly a glider
I still have not checked that box, but I think when I do, it will rival anything I’ve ever done in an airplane.
Ride in a hot air balloon
Back in 2004, while vacationing in Cairns, Australia, Marsha and I went up in a hot air balloon. What a beautiful, tranquil experience that was. A great way to take in the scenic views of rural Queensland.
As we were descending to land, a couple of kangaroos were directly beneath us. Standing upright, they were watching us. I could imagine them saying, “Crikey! Whattaya make o’ that, mate?” before hopping away.
Whether you do it in Australia, the USA, or anywhere else, I definitely recommend you go up.
Ride in a helicopter
Believe it or not, although I have logged more than 17,000 hours as a pilot, I have not yet even ridden in a helicopter. I look forward to the day – provided I’m not being airlifted.
Ride in a float plane
Talk about fun!
My first experience in a float plane was in Alaska. I and a friend I was working with had some free time, so we went to Lake Hood, a seaplane base located on the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, and made arrangements. For a reasonable fee, we purchased fishing licenses, were fitted in waders, and were flown in a de Havilland Beaver on floats to a lake several miles west of Anchorage. We spent the day fishing from a small boat with a guide who put us on the fish. It was a great time. I enjoyed the float plane experience so much that when we moved to Florida, I went to a seaplane base in Winter Haven and got the training, took a check ride, and added a seaplane rating to my pilot certificate.
Over the years, one by one, I managed to Travel to all 50 states.
One of my favorites is Alaska. While you are there, I recommend fishing in Alaska.
I have had several opportunities to fish in Alaska for silver salmon, king salmon, and halibut. I even took my oldest granddaughter up to a lodge on the Kenai Penninsula. It brought me a great sense of joy to have the time with her, and to see her catch a sockeye salmon and a rainbow trout. It was July, but it was raining and cold. Soaked to the bones, we sat in front of a fireplace for an hour or more, thawing out.
On the way back to Anchorage, she had the opportunity to fly on a float plane.
Go to Disney World.
If you haven’t been there, it’s worth taking the kids or grandkids. Don’t forget your wallet.
Attend MLB/NFL games in every stadium.
Some people actually do this. I love football, and especially baseball, but I’ve only attended baseball games in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, and Tampa Bay (St. Petersburg, FL). When we were in Florida, I also enjoyed going to Grapefruit League spring training games in Osceola, Disney World, and Bradenton.
As for the NFL, I’ve only been to games in St. Louis when the Cardinals were still there, Green Bay, Jacksonville, and Tampa.
Visit Niagara Falls
If you want to walk across the bridge into Canada, remember that you need a passport. It’s not like the old pre 9/11 days.
Earn a black belt
I started my journey in martial arts as a student of a Tae Kwon Do class offered by Olney Central College. Over the course of a few years, I advanced to the rank of red belt (equivalent to brown belt in some organizations – just one shy of black belt). Circumstances, in the form of a new job, required us to move, and I had to abandon my pursuit of the black belt in 1979.
Fast forward to the year 2002 … we were living near Richmond, Indiana, and I decided to take up martial arts again at a Kuk Sool Won school run by Kyosanim (2nd Degree Black Belt) Gary Phillips. My Tae Kwon Do rank meant nothing in this new discipline, so I gladly started over as a white belt. I moved up through the ranks, attending classes at every opportunity and practicing in my hotel room when I was away on my flying trips.
One of the hyungs (martial arts forms – basically a series of connected movements) required me to do a cartwheel. I was 50 years old at the time. I’d never done a cartwheel in my life, but I was not going to let that stop me from getting the black belt. I taught myself how, and passed my black belt test at age 50. But, why stop there? I worked even harder the next three years, and at 53, I earned my second-degree black belt – Kyosanim Wayne Baker. By then, Mr. Phillips had been promoted to 3rd degree, and has gone on since then to obtain a 5th degree ranking, which qualifies him as a Master.
The point I want to make here is that age is just a number. I am not old, merely chronologically challenged. If there is something you want to do, go do it. Like the song says, “Don’t let the old man (or woman) in!” Again, caution dictates I remind you to consult your doctor prior to beginning.
There are many different martial arts. They are all good. You will learn basic self-defense and sparring techniques. Some also emphasize meditation and internal development.
Tae Kwon Do originated in Korea, and is very popular. I imagine just about every town has a school. They seem to be like Starbuck’s and McDonald’s, they are everywhere. I enjoyed the time I participated in Tae Kwon Do. Of course, I was much younger and flexible then.
Kuk Sool Won, also rooted in Korea, is headquartered in Texas. Kuk Sa Nim – Grand Master Suh In Hyuk – brought Kuk Sool to the United States in XXXX and although not as well-known as Tae Kwon Do, it continues to grow and now includes schools all over the world.
I began my Kuk Sool training at age 50. I was concerned about beginning martial arts training at an advanced age. I was afraid of embarrassing myself, and of being looked down upon by others half my age. I’m glad to say that neither of those fears were justified. Etiquette is heavily emphasized in Kuk Sool, which means that every student is treated with respect. And although I felt a little awkward at first, I soon realized that was ok. Just proceed at your own pace, and gain momentum as you go. I earned my first degree black belt in two years, which is quick. I did it by attending classes as often as I could and practicing on my own in hotel rooms when I was away due to work.
What I personally liked most about Kuk Sool Won, aside from the friendships I established with fellow practitioners and students I taught, was the fact that most of the techniques are easily executed by someone such as myself, a little older – OK, a LOT older, and not as flexible as I used to be. There are a lot of kicking techniques, just as in other martial arts, but the fact that I can’t kick as high as someone half my age did not limit me in any way.
Another thing I like about Kuk Sool is that the there are literally hundreds of techniques, each of which can be executed to the degree of force that is necessary for a given situation. We use a lot of joint locks in our techniques. If someone grabs me and all I want to do is get them to take their hands off me, I can use maybe a 3 or a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of speed and force to accomplish that by inflicting minor pain. On the other hand, if I am fighting for my life, using that same technique I can take it to 10 and break a bone or dislocate a joint, then get away. As you can imagine, discretion is important and must be emphasized during training, particularly with younger students.
Jiu Jitsu originated in Japan. The Gracie family has done a great job of making it popular in the United States. We know it as Brazillian Jiu Jitsu. I had the opportunity to meet and train with some of the Gracies while on layovers in California. Fine people, all of them that I got to know. In fact, I actually met Grand Master Helio Gracie and he graciously consented to autograph my gi and my belt. Jiu Jitsu does have a lot of good standup self-defense techniques, but they are better known for ground fighting. With a minimum amount of effort, a proficient jiu jitsu practitioner can easily subdue an opponent.
Krav Maga
Focusing on maximum efficiency in real-world scenarios, Krav Maga was developed for the Israel Defense Forces, utilizing the most effective and pragmatic techniques employed in wrestling, judo, aikido, karate, boxing, and of course, street fighting. Out of necessity, there was an emphasis on aggression, utilizing coinciding defensive and offensive tactics.
There are two forms of Krav Maga. One is adapted for Israeli security forces, and the other for civilian use.
As is the case with most martial arts, Krav Maga emphasizes the importance of avoiding physical confrontations, but if that is not possible, a quick and aggressive finish to the fight is accomplished by attacking the most vulnerable parts of the body.
There are countless other martial art systems out there. As you look for martial arts classes for Baby Boomers, I would say take your time, do some research, visit a couple of schools to see which is best for you. Ask questions. Do they have special self-defense classes for senior citizens? Will the school assist you in learning techniques designed specifically for senior citizens with physical limitations? And, as important as anything, do you feel comfortable and welcome as a senior citizen participating in martial arts at their school?
Enrollment and testing fees will vary from one martial arts school to another. It wouldn’t hurt to ask if there is a discount for senior citizens, veterans, or families who enroll together.
As far as martial arts equipment goes, you probably won’t need much. A martial arts uniform, called a gi for jiu jitsu or do bok for Tae Kwon Do or Kuk Sool Won is affordable. (Other disciplines will have other terminology to describe their martial arts uniforms and equipment.) Later on you may decide to buy martial arts equipment, such as swords, fighting canes, or staffs for advanced training.
Become a mentor for teens.
Volunteer
Volunteer as a coach for youth sports. Teach them the fundamentals of the game. Teach them the value of teamwork and sportsmanship.
I was a mentor for children of incarcerated parents.
I served as a reserve deputy on a mounted patrol horseback unit in Indiana. I also took part in riding along with full-time deputies. You see a whole different side of life from that point of view. I have the utmost respect for the law enforcement officers who put themselves at risk every day to keep us safe.
Volunteer to help after natural disasters.
Go on a Tiger Cruise, courtesy of the US Navy. I had the privilege of spending a week on a submarine. Been there done that. Glad I did. I don’t need to do it again. A week is a long time to be cooped up in a submarine if you are not a functioning crewmember. Next time, I want to go on an aircraft carrier.
I traveled alone to Australia to ride the trains of the Ghan and the Indian Pacific Railway.
I vacationed with my wife and daughter in New Zealand and Australia. Both are beautiful and fascinating countries, well worth going as soon as you can.
Cruises:
My one and only cruise was to Bermuda. It was great. I rented a moped and did a self-guided tour.
There are many others that I would love to do someday:
Caribbean cruise.
A reposition cruise could be a good way to have some extended time at sea at exceptionally reasonably rates. A reposition cruise occurs when the cruise line moves the ship at the end of the season in one location to begin service for another season in another part of the world.
Mississippi Riverboat cruise
Now this just sounds like fun! Stop at various points of interest along the way down the Mississippi River. Spend your nights on a paddlewheel boat. Definitely near the top of my bucket list.
I’ve always wanted to Drive the Pan Am Highway, which goes all the way from northern Alaska to the tip of South America, but now I’m not so sure how safe I would feel doing it. And then, there is the matter of The Darien Gap, a patch of maybe 70 miles where there are no roads. You have to ship your vehicle from one end of the Darien Gap to the other. I suppose you could hike it to meet your car on the other side, but it is frought with danger. Jungle, creatures that can kill you, both two and four-legged. This is an area that people making their way to enter the U.S. illegally trek on foot, guided by less-than-scrupulous individuals. Proceed at your own risk.
Shark Cage
As I sit here in the safety of my home office in Colorado, I bravely proclaim that I want to view great white sharks from a shark cage. Whether or not I would actually have the courage to go through with it – there is only one way to tell. Popular places to do it are Port Lincoln in South Australia, or South Africa. If and when I do it I will be sure to let you know and include photos!
Pike’s Peak Cog Railway
I checked this one off in 2022. Enjoyable, but not much to see until you get above the tree line. Parking is a challenge in Manitou Springs, where you board the train.
Amsterdam water tour and Anne Frank house are both well worth your time if you find yourself in Amsterdam.
Step foot on all 7 continents
So far, I’m at 5. North America, where I’ve lived my entire life. Australia, Asia, Europe, and Africa. I want to go to South America, but I don’t have a burning desire to go to Antarctica. Never say never, though.
World Series
My daughter and I made it to Game 1 of the 2008 World Series. The Tampa Bay Rays were hosting the Philadelphia Phillies. The seats we were in were not even suitable for Bob Uecker! We couldn’t see more than about half the outfield. It should not have been legal for them to charge money for those seats!
Here are a few more worth considering:
Superbowl
NCAA Final Four
College baseball World Series
Viking river cruise
Old Faithful in Yellowstone
Drive the Road to Hana in Maui
Taj Mahal
Galapagos Islands
Whale watching in Hawaii
Florida theme parks
Olympics
Kentucky Derby/Preakness/Belmont Stakes
Indianapolis 500
Daytona 500
Photo safari in Africa
Forbidden City in China
Snorkel Green Island, Oz
Tulips in Holland
Banff National Park
Yangtze River Cruise
The Colosseum in Rome
Greek ruins
Stonehenge
Travel to Machu Picchu.
Travel to the Great Wall of China.
Live, study, or work abroad. (Teach English)
Experience the fall foliage in New England / New Brusnswick/ Nova Scotia
See the Pyramids
Visit the national parks
Visit the battlegrounds
Hawaii
Sleep in an overnight train (US/Canada/Oz/ others)
Fly over the Grand Canyon
US road trip
Run with the Bulls in Pamplona (Not for me, but if you are worried about living too long, or outliving your money, knock yourself out.)
Gondola through Venice
Well, that’s enough for now. As I said, start your own list. These are just ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Use or discard them at your pleasure.
Captain Rusty Boomer Life 
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