Life after Bucket Lists

[W2R]

Some of us have "Bucket Lists" of things that we are determined to do or possess before we die. Some want to go to Paris, some want to build their own house singlehandedly, some want to play the violin, some want a boat, some want to travel the highways and byways by RV, some want to own and drive a particular antique car, some want to learn another language, some want to climb Machu Picchu, and so on.

For those who have had a Bucket List, and completed it, what happened next?

Did you find that after time more items popped up on your Bucket List, or was it done for good?

Was finishing your Bucket List a good thing, or did it make you feel like life was essentially over for you?

 

[BigBob]

I realize that I will never complete my bucket list, and that is a good thing! It seems that every time I complete an item in my "life list", I add one or two more; I think that is a healthy perspective. Maybe the items in my list are not as grandiose as others, but I have never heard of anyone saying "hey, I've done everything I have ever wanted to do". I hope I am a ripe old age before saying that!

 

[W2R]

I realize that I will never complete my bucket list, and that is a good thing! It seems that every time I complete an item in my "life list", I add one or two more; I think that is a healthy perspective. Maybe the items in my list are not as grandiose as others, but I have never heard of anyone saying "hey, I've done everything I have ever wanted to do". I hope I am a ripe old age before saying that!

That's encouraging! I like your answer.

For many years I thought I didn't have a bucket list, but then I realized recently that buying and living in a really nice house was actually a bucket list item for me all along. I was able to accomplish that bucket list item last summer and crossed it off my list.

So the reason for the thread is that I'm curious about whether something else may take its place, and how people's bucket lists evolve over time. Or do they just end? It sounds like yours didn't.

 

[RetireAge50]

I have some red buckets, black buckets, and a few white buckets. I think I have plenty and so adding buckets to the list is probably over.

 

[RunningBum]

About the only thing I'd call a bucket list item was to run a marathon, which I did at 38. I decided I liked it, so I set goals to do more of them, to do even longer races, and have faster times. I have some specific races I'd still like to do, but sometimes better races come about, or for whatever reason it just doesn't work out to run that race, so I don't really call them bucket list things because I'm fine if I don't do them. For example, I thought it'd be neat to run all the big major marathons, but I've found that other than Boston I really like the smaller races a lot better.

Likewise with places to visit. There are some things I'd like to see but over the years my interests change, or maybe political stability makes it less appealing. I don't want to tic off a bucket list item just because I put it on the list 10 years earlier.

To answer your question, I think it's always fun to have some goal to strive for and look forward to, so I'd say it's some combination of adding new bucket list items or moving the goal posts on an item you've done.

 

[LauAnn]

I don't have a bucket list. Building a new home was a spontaneous decision for me. I like booking trips a year in advance because I enjoy the planning and anticipation of the trip as much (if not more so) than the actual trip. With the internet and ease of on-line purchasing, I am much more quick to treat myself to something on the spur of the moment.

The only thing that comes close to a 'bucket list' item for me was achieving early retirement.

 

[Mulligan]

I have come to accept the fact that things I mention for my bucket list is actually a code word for things I would like to do, but are too lazy to actually do.


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[Ronstar]

I realize that I will never complete my bucket list, and that is a good thing! It seems that every time I complete an item in my "life list", I add one or two more; I think that is a healthy perspective. Maybe the items in my list are not as grandiose as others, but I have never heard of anyone saying "hey, I've done everything I have ever wanted to do". I hope I am a ripe old age before saying that!

I'm the same way. As I go through life and my desires change, my list changes as well. I'm always finding new things to add to the list and checking off the things that I've done. I'll never check off every item. I won't be able to check off some because I'll be too old to accomplish the item when I get around to doing it.

 

[youbet]

Did you find that after time more items popped up on your Bucket List, or was it done for good?

Ten years into FIRE, my bucket list has grown. The more I experience things, the more I realize there is much more to experience. None of the items are a lust, a passion or an obsession. But everything sounds like a very appealing activity and it's fun not only actually having the experience but I also enjoy the planning and anticipation.

 

[audreyh1]

My first reaction was most people's bucket lists are endless and still growing? But in our case I think we misplaced our bucket list a few years after retiring.......

 

[Souschef]

I asked my wife this question, as she has completed 80 different items on her bucket list. Some of them she did not even know about until I brought them up.
Her answer was, "Sit back, be grateful, and enjoy the memories. This is contentment".

 

[braumeister]

About the only thing I'd call a bucket list item was to run a marathon, which I did at 38.

That was a big bucket list item for me, and I did it at 58. Not well, you understand, but I finished and I'm still grinning about it many years later.

The rest of my list is almost all places I'd like to see. My problem is that there are so many places I've been that I love so much. Every time I think about going someplace new, I find myself dithering because there is an old favorite I'd love to visit again.

 

[JDARNELL]

There are some things that I would like to do or at least think I would however I often wonder how I will feel when they are completed. Even some things that I have completed don't seem as great as the anticipation. But other things I have completed I go back and do again. For example going to Sturgis every year. I enjoy seeing the people I have met over the years, love the riding, and like the atmosphere. It is always a long sad ride when I leave. I know there are some things that while I think I would like to do them I never will and will choose an easier route. Building a boat for the Great Loop comes to mind. Would love to build one to say I did but buying would be easier. I think that is ok.

JDARNELL

 

[AnIntentionalRoad]

My bucket list is ever growing and I'm lucky that I consistently cross items off.

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[Souschef]

I have one thing left on my list. I have already flown a jet, but want to fly a B-25. I am negotiation with a group in AZ to do it.

 

[Ronstar]

I have one thing left on my list. I have already flown a jet, but want to fly a B-25. I am negotiation with a group in AZ to do it.

That would be awesome. Is it "Maid in the Shade"?


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[Souschef]

That would be awesome. Is it "Maid in the Shade"? View attachment 22745


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Yes-I figure if the kid in the Mel Gibson movie can do it, I can too lol

 

[Lucantes]

I have come to accept the fact that things I mention for my bucket list is actually a code word for things I would like to do, but are too lazy to actually do.

this was good!

 

[Live And Learn]

My bucket list has one item: "Strive to live your best life today".

 

[kcowan]

My list is staying the same. I add new ones when the completed ones come off.
e.g. the Adriatic cruise is done, and
the trip to Sicily and Normandy.

But Galapagos is on my list (but not my wife's) and I could not get on the trip by some friends 2 years ago. And my biking/barge trip should get done this June.

Buying a snowbird place has reduced the opportunities to one trip per year. But that was a tradeoff we accepted. South American trips also conflicts with our snowbird life. But life is about compromises.

 

[marko]

My work life included 25 years of long term international travel to some pretty cool places where our locals took it upon themselves to show me a good time.

Got to spend a lot of weekends and nights doing things I didn't even know existed or never thought I'd ever get to do. I got about 3-4 lives worth of bucket lists done as a result.

At this point, though relatively young (63) I'm pretty content to call the bucket list complete. Not much I care to do beyond my usual travel, beaches, skiing, boating etc. Nothing exotic at this point.

It does bother me a bit sometimes; worry about 'getting old' before my time but....

 

[Sarah in SC]

DH has a bit of a bucket list problem, in that he gets a bit at short ends once he finishes up a big bucket list item. Good thing new stuff crops up fairly often, but the times in between can get a little maudlin while there's nothing in the hopper.

I have lots of things that I want to do "eventually", but none have risen to the top as a must-do in the immediate future. I think that is a function of working doldrums more than anything else.

 

[brett]

We have been doing extended snowbird trips to knock off some of our bucket list items and to avoid our harsh winters.

So far it has been South Africa, Costa Rica, SE Asia several times, and Oz/NZ. The latter is back on our list for more travel. This winter will be our third year in Thailand but we are adding Cambodia and Vietnam. Travel is relatively inexpensive in these countries.

Our list for future extended snowbird trips includes South America, Mexico, Central America, and Oz/NZ.

We juggle our lists based on attractive currency ratios, good airfare, cost of travel as well as last minute travel deals-often cruise or resort offerings. We generally keep our plans open so that we can make changes on the fly.

I have Trans Siberian/China rail trip on my list but will have to do this alone as DW has given notice that she intends to pass on this one.

 

[RenoJay]

When I was 29, I had a "before 30" list that included things like:
Travel all 7 continents;
Run a marathon;
Learn Spanish in foreign country;
Learn about wine;
Learn to play the sax;
Learn to sail;
Earn millions of dollars.

I made good attempts at most of the goals, and hit many at least temporarily, but many didn't stick for the long haul some 15 years later. Now my goals are fewer, but I tend to put more attention on the quality and doing things that will last a lifetime as opposed to things that will simply impress others at parties.


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[rodi]

My bucket list is mostly travel...
(Machu Pichu, Petras, etc). Some new stuff has been added as other items are checked off - but the big ones are still in the future... maybe when the kids are launched.

I prefer to set "goals" for myself. For example: Learn Italian, learn to make bread, to make a perfect pie crust from scratch with no shortening, etc.. I've done the cooking ones, still working on the Italian one.