Don't have a bucket list, do it now!

loulou57 wrote:
Don't have a bucket list. A list that you must complete before your time runs out. Most people start their bucket list then wait until they retire to get it all done. Why not just do it, do it now, do it as soon as you are able.

A week ago a good friend of ours passed away. She was a wonderful girl with a loving devoted husband. The two of them enjoyed camping and had many adventures together.
Our friends had done everything right in life and they had their retirement planned out. A life of RVing would be theirs.
This couples dreams were cut short. They had bought a new TT a few years ago that would be their RV until they retired and bought a class A. Now the TT sits with a for sale sign on it.
The loss of our friend has opened our eyes a little wider. We realized that we can't wait for retirement to work on a bucket list. We need to see and do all the things we want to do together now!
So, next time you are sitting by a campfire, listening to a lonely loon calling for his mate, think of our friends husband. He can call for his mate but she will no longer hear his call, she will not answer. If you enjoy a shot of Malibu rum, have a shot and think of another RV'er. A great lady who at the age of 52, lost her chance to fulfill her bucket list.

I can't agree with this enough. I'd rather spend my money on adventures with my family than save it all up for retirement. Not that I don't save for retirement; I do. But I cut back in other areas, like clothes and shoes, because I care more about the family activities than what I wear.

I've told this story before, but I think I need to tell it again. My DHs grandfather came to this country from Greece when he was 17. He had only a few dollars in his pocket and no English language skills. He managed to find a restaurant owner, also Greek, who allowed him to sleep in the kitchen because he couldn't afford even a boarding house room. Eventually, Grandpa saved enough to buy the restaurant and get married. He bought a house, then several houses, then several restaurants and became a wealthy man. Grandpa never missed a day of work in all that time. He finally retired at 66, intending on taking a long-awaited vacation. He lived 5 months and never got to do ANYTHING.

We decided early in our marriage that we were not going to do that. DH had a bit of a false start when he became a workaholic, giving everything to his career. But he eventually saw the error of his ways. He became permanently disabled at age 47 and our lives changed just about overnight. At that point, we realized that we needed to do things ASAP because we never know what's going to happen. As a result, we have taken many trips including a 6,000 mile cross-country RV trip with the kids in 2007.

We always intended to go back out west. We had an Alaska cruise scheduled for this summer. But in March 2014, suddenly DH got a lot worse. His lung function dropped very low and his heart has begun to fail. Suddenly, all trips are on hold. Instead of flying to Alaska this summer, we will be driving to the hospital for open heart surgery. DH is very high risk and there is a possibility that he will not survive the surgery.

At this juncture, we don't know what the future holds but we are SOOOO glad that we made time to make memories with our family. Not a week goes by that we don't reminisce about our trip out west.

My best advice to anyone is DON'T PUT OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST. Do it now, as much as you can. If you can't afford a tricked out monster motorhome, buy a truck and trailer. If you can't afford that, get a tent. Go to the beach, even if you have to eat PBJ for the whole week. Go on picnics, listen to bluegrass, sing in the church choir, support your local high school band/theater/sports/chess club. We don't know what the future holds. Don't wait until you're 62 or 67 or 70 to make good memories with your family. Nobody on their deathbed has ever said, "I wish I had worked more and spent less time with my spouse and kids."