What's on Your Bucket List?

Before I retired, I admit I pretty much only pictured myself being involved in two activities, one being travel and the other being not working. 

I never really had a bucket list, you know, one of those lists of things I wanted to be sure to get through before I died.  Even on the travel part, it’s not like I have a list of places I have to see before I die.  I figure I won’t get to them all anyway, so I’ll just go to the place that appeals to me at the moment.  Maybe because someone’s offered me a home exchange, maybe because I see a great deal on the internet, or maybe because friends ask us to tag along.  In any case, I’m ok with leaving much of the world unexplored.

But I think travel and not working commonly top the list of activities many soon-to-be-retirees focus on, that and maybe golf.

A few months ago, I read an article about a financial planner that goes through a bucket list approach for his retirement planning clients.   His view is that if he can get his clients to really picture how they want to be spending their time in retirement, he can help them figure out how much money they would need to make that life a reality.  It sounds like his clients are a lot like me.  It’s hard for an advisor to help clients figure out how much they need for retirement when their primary goal is just to not work.

So he starts by asking clients to picture how they would like to live their lives if they knew they only had 20 years left to live, then five years, then one year.  Twenty years seems like enough time to get really good at the piano and travel leisurely as the opportunity arises.  So I’ve got that covered.  If I knew I only had five years to live, I would definitely want a dog in my life.  I keep thinking about it, but since I feel like I have more like 50 years left, I keep putting that one off.  But it’s a good thing to keep in the back of my mind.  I’m sure I’ll have a dog waking me up in the morning in the not-too-distant future.

If I only had one year left though, I probably wouldn’t spend a whole lot of time traveling.  Instead, I’d probably try to spend as much time with friends and family as possible.  Maybe I’d be more inclined to travel if it involved traveling with friends or family. 

It’s a pretty interesting exercise to think about your bucket list in this fashion, breaking it down to specific time periods.  Looks like the only thing I’m missing from my bucket list is a canine companion.  But I’m hoping there’s still plenty of time for that.  So right now I’m on my way to Hawaii, excited to spend some quality time with fun-loving friends.

Related Posts:

            Retirement Resolutions

            Retirement Resolutions that Didn't Make the Cut

            Retirement Planning:  It's Not All About the Money

 

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(Photo details:  Mauna Lani, Hawaii)

 

Comments

[Madeline]

I always found the entire term "bucket list" kind of..well, almost offensive. I'd rather consider it a "LIFE LIST" but then,I don't really have one of those either!! LOL!

I LOVE LIFE! But I have never had a huge "have to" list.

I am almost retired (down to a couple of hours a week till our business sells..then we BOTH will be fully done! SOON! SOON!!)

I find I like regular life so much that really simple stuff thrills me.. this is either a gift or a curse.. my son thinks I "NEED" to see Europe, and it just isn't on my radar at this time.When I have time and money to travel i head to a BEACH.

I do want to see more of the USA.

I'd like to drive up the far northern California coast.
Would like to see Appalachia, the West coast of Florida, and stay a whole month of a Pacific Northwest island sometime.

If I have 20 yrs .I figure i can get to most of that ,as the opportunities arise.

I've been to a lot of places I had wanted to go, multiple times even: Hawaii,Costa rica,Santa Fe,Taos,Washington DC,Bonaire,Cozumel,cruises.." (We've been busy I guess.. the past 25 years..!) Have hiked Na Pali cliffs, snorkeled with HUGE manta rays , sailed to the Catalina Island Jazz festival with friends, and had many adventures (still am..)

For now,retirement for me and a "life" or bucket list would be similar to yours: BEING retired and a bit of travel. mostly USA travel. LOTS of time on my own back patio,swimming in the pool,playing cards with friends, wine parties with girlfriends! pot lucks, LIBRARY time, cooking, learning more vegan recipes,listen to music, trade massages with my husband, volunteering in local soup kitchen.

i love to read about retirees adventures, but I don't feel any pressure to be TOO busy when we fully retire.

Serendipity sounds like a good idea,take opportunities as they come up...

[Tamara]

One year - Travel through as much of the US and Canada as possible in our RV
Five years - Learn to speak fluent Spanish and passable French. Spend a month in Paris, two months in New Zealand, and walk The West Highland Way in Scotland.
Twenty years - Speak both Spanish and French fluently. Take on a six month assignment to teach school in a South or Central American country. Travel to India, S. Africa and the Galapagos.

I do keep ongoing lists of things to do next, but I'm constantly checking them off and moving on to the next one, so I'm not sure if that's a bucket list or a to-do list!

[Retired Syd]

Madeline and Tamara: You've both touched on something I want to do more of, traveling within the U.S. There is so much of it I haven't seen that much of that it seems a foreign country to me--except one where I already speak the language. I should work on that.

[Cathy Severson]

Isn't it interesting how context changes everything. Since I still work in my own business, I periodically do a check-in to see if this is how I want to spend my time. It seems like the 1-year bucket list is less about events and more about quality of life. What makes my life worth living? As I get older, it seems like it is the simpler things-family and friends like you mentioned. The sun is starting to go down as I write this, I'm sitting on my back patio. listening the to quail as they scratch for food in my back yard. I know that life is good.

[New at this]

Bucket lists are for people who are still working. I'm still pinching myself every morning, especially Mondays, when I remind myself that I don't have to go back to that awful job - ever again! I don't seem to need an African Safari trip or any other great adventure to provide an "escape"....I am already right where I want to be (finally) and the last thing I want to do is take on the responsibility of anything that will take me away from it...

Back porch with my laptop and a cool drink, here I come....

[fred doe]

I agree with Madeline. I reject the phrase (bucket list) but then I reject baby boomer also and slowly but surly all labels. It's part of my twenty year plan because at sixty that's what I got left. If I had five the first thing I'd have to do is take my computer and tv and smash them with a sledge hammer:) and then go on from there. One year how every? I think the parting would take me out before the end of the year:) (oh! the debauchery).

[dgpcolorado]

I suppose it depends on what one most wants to do with the free time that used to be consumed by a job. While I am aware of the idea of a bucket list I can't recall ever feeling the need to develop one. For me the joy of being retired is the freedom to do what I want rather than what I must! No checklist needed.

My observation over the years is that one of the most expensive "hobbies" of retirees—including my parents—is travel, especially foreign travel. Unlike most people I dislike travel and my other hobbies cost almost nothing so I can get by on very little. And that thrift allowed me to retire young, which was what I wanted most.

Rather than travel I moved to the place that I most enjoyed visiting back when I was forced to live in cities or suburbia. Now I have lots of interesting places to visit in my "back yard", including some outstanding National Parks, and can enjoy wildlife and scenic mountain vistas without even leaving my house. However, most of my visitors express the feeling that they couldn't stand the remote rural living that I so enjoy; they want the activities of a city, especially a college town. Everyone needs to find his/her own niche. If that involves very expensive hobbies such as travel (or golf, the attraction of which leaves me mystified) then that needs to be factored into one's retirement budget.

[retireby40]

Have a great time in Hawaii! That's a good idea to break it down to various timeline like that.
For one year, I probably would take care of all the financial loose ends. There are too many things that I've put off because I'm pretty sure I have many years left. I would want to spend time with families who live faraway.
For 20 years? I'll need to think about it more.

[Jen W]

My husband and I are of cautious and conservative natures, so we started vacationing and traveling while we were still employed. We always thought we cannot be sure that we would be in top condition to do adventurous travel if we waited too long. I am sure glad we did, while the places we love were still pristine, air travel much more pleasant, and prices lower. Travel is addicting to me and I still want to do a lot more. But I already have loads of amazing memories and would have no regrets in life if our travel days come to a grinding halt. I also thank God every morning that I no longer have to work. Funny how time just flies when one is enjoying the retired life.