jetset1

I am starting to think about things I hope to accomplish, while my joints are still limber.
Getting a pilot's license...(have already taken "discovery" flights and have ground school info.)

Starting to write a book. Have done some newspaper articles, so my feet are wet anyway.

Trying to stay active and maintain good health. Very few vices(I'll admit to here anyway!)

I am curious as to what some of you have done, are doing, would like to do later when things are settled somewhat? Any big goals, travel or otherwise?
I love inspiring stories. It's sobering to see what people with more challenges have done.

** Serious due to rain, J.**

vegasnative

I thing in life I haev always wanted to do and am still planning on doing is to adopt a child. I have read several books on adopting a girl from China, and talked with moms that have. China government requires both parents to be over 30 to adopt, so we are waiting for DH to turn the big 3-0, then plan on processing paperwork.
Travel wise, I would love to one day do an African safari.

vegasnative

obviously another thing I need to do is learn to type! sorry!

jetset1

vegasnative~ my sister is friends with a couple who recently adopted a brother and sister from Russia. What a wonderful gift. I hope you will have this come true for you.
Before we were blessed with our second son(after a five year wait and many sad events), I had thought about this too. J.

JAGIRL

I still hope to grow up some day.

I often wonder what that would be like.

jetset1

JAGIRL~ I think I might have reached it to the big table finally. I was in my fff..faaa..foorrrtt..eeeesssszzz.(whew, my helium almost ran out).. see, it's traumatic because I have the legs of a 16 yr. old, but the midsection of a blood filled tick).

My point now is that I have just let go of previous fears, doubts and hesitation, so I can carry on without later regrets.
So come what may, I will persist.

Scarlett

JAGIRL, It is not all that it is cracked up to be. I would recommend staying just as you are

My big goal for now is to find a pupsitter and go to Buenos Aires. I have learned through time that you plan and you plan, then Life happens, so I am trying not to plan too far ahead

starrsville

I agree, Scarlett! Life is so much sweeter when you have a petsitter you can count on. My pup landed in the perfect place - "Granny and Grandpa's"

Is your pup a standard poodle? The top poodle in the world is from BA (but was trained in Atlanta)

Scarlett

Yes, Pup is a standard. Thanks for the info, I would love to see the Top Poodle in the World! ((&))

starrsville

My friend was the handler. That pup won the big poodle show. After seeing the award, I asked friend if she was the #1 Bitch in the World?

BA pup is now elsewhere. Friend's standard came in 2nd (out of 999 poodles) to BA pup in this year's show.

She kept one of the black puppies from #2 dog's litter. He is GORGEOUS!

One day...a standard schnauzer for me!

girlonthego

I would like to see the world.

I would like to take my daughter to a spanish speaking country to practice her spanish next year. Part of me wants to practice what I have re learned quizzing her. I am looking forward to relearning spanish 2 next year.
I am glad she likes her spanish class. I am grateful that I have kids who are good travelers. I am also grateful that I have a husband that secretly loves traveling as much as I. He pretends that it is all my passion that he is helping to fullfill, but truthfully he looks forward to our trips.
I am hoping I am live long enough and am healthy enough to say I have met many wonderful people and have seen many wonderous places.
On the boring side of life. I would like to lose a few pounds that have crept up on me these past few years.

enzian

Nice to see you back, Starrsville. I was thinking about you earlier today, hoping you would appear here soon.

starrsville

Thanks, enzian. I appreciate the welcome back. That was a bizarre experience.

To bring this back to the topic -

To continue efforts started in the last 3 years -
To continue to reach out to others.
To continue to give up worrying about being wrong. (To make yourself "right" , you have to make someone "wrong")
To continue to ask for help when I need it.
To continue to try to tell others how much they mean to me.
To smile as much as possible to strangers.
To laugh as much as possible.
To cuddle every day.
To appreciate the blessing around me - that often go unnoticed.
To be thankful.
To say a prayer anytime I see a wreck or think someone needs help, peace or comfort.
To save money for my next trip and continue to plan several trips out.

enzian

An excellent list, Starrsville. I need to be reminded of those things, and pay attention to them.

I tend to answer "life list" questions with more physical things---along the lines of jetset's "joints are still limber" criteria. I'm 59 years old and have had breast cancer, but the good news is the joints ARE still limber, and I am actually fitter and stronger than I was 40 years ago. So my life list goals tend to be places to go and hike with my family. But I've already been to the best---the Alps, Dolomites, High Sierras, Canadian Rockies---so I just want to keep going back again and again as long as I can (and my family members are willing to humor me!)

The "still to be done" list would include hiking in Peru (that's on the schedule for 2008), hiking the John Muir Trail in the Sierras for a second time, hiking the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt for the first time, and exploring new places in the Dolomites.

And maybe someday, Jetset, I'll make it back up to Alaska to look around and see how it's changed in 25 years. Can residents still dipnet salmon from the Copper River? We pay $10 a pound for Copper River sockeye down here (Seattle); the king salmon runs about $25/lb. We buy the sockeye; I always preferred that anyway.

jetset1

Good grief.. I may have just had an outer limits moment. I woke up thirsty, come here to see what's in the net,then encounter the technical problems of trying to reply.. the joys of insomnia..
Scarlett~ I used to have a toy poodle years ago. I still miss him. I saw a nice white standard at my local nursery who had such a sweet face! And you are right, no telling what's ahead, but I have a few things that seemed destined to finish.
girlonthego~ you are lucky.. my husband enjoys my lust for travel. My mom was my inspiration. She opened my eyes to the world and I wish I could have accompanied her to more places, but I am grateful for the meaningful ones we did take.
starrsville~ well said and so true. It's nice to hope we are evolving and gaining life's true wisdom.. hokey, but my dad taught me much as well.
enzian~ I'm not sure on the Copper River. We are allowed to dipnet in the Inlet and the Kenai River. We had salmon all winter, including smoked, which was a real treat. My husband enjoys the process and makes a fine effort in their cleaning!
You know what? If my mind stays intact til the end, that's enough really. To share the life experiences with my kids, and the memories, and see their new lives unfold.
more tomorrow, nitey nite, J.

BayouGal

J, I am not sleeping either. Is it daylight there now, or when you posted at about 1AM your time? I loved the almost constant daylight when we were there.

I don't know what I want to accomplish, as far as achievements go. But I know I want to become a better person and a better listener. I am very compassionate, but I want to show compassion easier. I want to continue to enjoy time with my family. I want to not only set my priorities in correct order, but I want to keep my priorities in line day to day (does that make sense?). I want to better appreciate the little things, and learn to live more fully in the moment.

Is my age showing? ;-)

kswl

Jetset, your comment about one's mind staying intact until the end was timely for me. My aunt was just in Atlanta, visiting my mother overnight. She has Alzheimer's disease, and this is probably the last time she will travel anywhere. She has been on medication for this condition for several years, but has almost no short-term memory. There are two of my mother's 8 siblings alive. They are both women; they both have Alzheimer's. One of them is just two years older than my mother. Just writing that fills me with sadness, dread, and resignation.

To have one's mind intact "until the end" is indeed one of life's greatest blessings.

SAnParis

Always enjoy like to its fullest. Right now we joke about everyone moving to Paris when my daughter gets out of school (she is curretnly 4) so she can become the next Julia Child. Put up my own little beach shack on Montserrat.

SAnParis

BayouGal - you need to visit Iceland, right now...there is probably about 4 hours of semi-night right about now. I also agree w/the mind thing. My Aunt, who is now in her 70's, & has aged beautifully & gracefully now has the Alzeimers kicking in, it is very sad.

GoTravel

You think you have life figured out, the WHAM! It clotheslines you.

The past four months have certainly been a challenge for me so I am just trying to take life one day at a time.

One of my long term goals was to run a marathon and I ran NYC this past November. I'm running it again.

I couldn't run the marathon until I accomplished another goal first; quitting smoking.