Your Bucket List Disappointments

[MarieIG]

I had a simple goal. My goal was to make a road trip through remote areas of America in the middle of the night in a convertible with the top down so I can look up and see the Milky Way. We borrowed my brother-in-law Miata and heading out in the warmest part of August. The problem was when you get old (I'm in my 60s) your night vision isn't good. I could only see maybe 100 yards ahead; not good when you're driving through windy roads. I didn't have time to look up at the stars because the driving was terrifying. I was sure glad to see the sun come up! I was exhausted from the whole ordeal.

Also staying awake all night could be a challenge. I would need a chauffer, good weather, a reclining seat, wind screen, binoculars - and a whole lot of blankets!

 

[NW-Bound]

My son just came back from Alaska. He was hoping to see the northern lights, but it was cloudy the entire week he was there.

So, it was disappointment for him, but in a different way.

 

[flyingaway]

FIRE itself. It has been far more depressing than I expected, although keeping working would be much worse in my case.

 

[NW-Bound]

FIRE itself. It has been far more depressing than I expected, although keeping working would be much worse in my case.

Oh no. Even "flyingaway" is not enough to get you happy?

 

[daylatedollarshort]

I don't have a bucket list, but I'd heard a lot about pretty hiking in England. While it was green, it was kind of flat and denuded most of the places we went to. Mountains and forests are more fun for me.

 

[Montecfo]

I do not have a bucket list.. we take things as they come.. except my Music Bucket List, almost all acts checked off and many have since had members kick it.

I have a fear of experiencing regret. For that reason I carefully analyze things and hesvily research before committing to them. And if I think i might find them all that great. This seems to allow me to avoid disappointment in many cases. And a bucket list might make this harder since, well, have to do it, it is on the list.

I seldom seem to regret things I
decided not to do.

The other thing I do is try to keep expectations in check. Unrealistic expectations may be fun's greatest nemesis.

 

[skyking1]

My son just came back from Alaska. He was hoping to see the northern lights, but it was cloudy the entire week he was there.

So, it was disappointment for him, but in a different way.

That is a tough one, it is on our list too.

 

[NW-Bound]

I don't have a bucket list, but I'd heard a lot about pretty hiking in England. While it was green, it was kind of flat and denuded most of the places we went to. Mountains and forests are more fun for me.

Then, you have to come to the Dolomites. Hiking trails everywhere.

 

[RobbieB]

Don't have a list. Just go from one adventure, hobby, activity, experience to another. Whatever pops into my head.

Disappointments have been few. Not much to complain about.

 

[NW-Bound]

Don't have a list. Just go from one adventure, hobby, activity, experience to another. Whatever pops into my head.

Disappointments have been few. Not much to complain about.

That's the way to do it. When you get bored with something, move on to the next thing.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

Then, you have to come to the Dolomites. Hiking trails everywhere.

Actually there are mountains and forests with hiking trails all around where we live, which is why we moved to here - https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-hikes-in-san-francisco-bay-area. Plus a lot of other cool hiking with just day / weekend trips, like Lake Tahoe, Mendocino, and Yosemite.

 

[plex]

Hmm, this might not strike a chord except for the younger nerdier subgroup, but I was hoping to play a really good MMORPG after I retired and had time to spends days straight in something fairly challenging with good end game that I could play weeks on end. These kinds of games were all over the place while I was undergrad, and I had to cut my time with them short once I switched to preparing for a career/an even more difficult degree at the end of undergrad. I didn't realize that was the golden period for MMO's.

Then I reached retirement and...they are all gone, all that is left amongst the popular games is cash/gacha shops trying to quickly milk you before you realize there is no end game. Still waiting for a good one to come out, no developer has been willing to risk creating one like that in almost a decade due to the high cost and long development cycle.

 

[EastWest Gal]

Actually there are mountains and forests with hiking trails all around where we live, which is why we moved to here - https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-hikes-in-san-francisco-bay-area. Plus a lot of other cool hiking with just day / weekend trips, like Lake Tahoe, Mendocino, and Yosemite.

Check out Pinnacles, but not in this rain. It’s fascinating. I hiked many of the Bay Area places living there 40 years. One memorable day was hiking from Muir Woods to Muir Beach with friends when I was 13. I used to walk out the front door of my parents’ house and just go to the end of the developed area, and hike in the hills where the cows grazed (avoiding the cows). The hills are now covered with houses.

 

[FLSUnFIRE]

I guess I fall in the "no ragrets" camp... if I didn't do something on my list, I would likely have a sense of regret/failure that I didn't and would likely have it built up in my mind as something better than reality. Therefor I really don't have a bucket list but a portfolio of things that interest me across many domains. Comparison is the thief of joy and comparing my life to a hypothetical me that did everything would take away from my joy. I have more interests than I'd ever be able to pursue if I listed them all. Especially, after FIRE, I enjoy the moment in whatever it is I'm doing and try not to look for the next things so eagerly.



That said. Totally agree with Disney although I do enjoy thrill rides at other parks. Living on the beach would be another underwhelming experience. I rented for a year and walked away from a contract to buy a house in a beach community before I ended up buying downtown (which I love being able to walk/bike to so much). While it was nice to walk on the beach (and I loved running on the beach) it is a bit isolated from where things are happening and I like variety and can still drive to multiple beaches to do beachy activities. Getting married...in hindsight we both probably were influenced by expectations both internal and external that it was something we had to do. That was definitely something that did not work out they way we imagined our life would be.

 

[Ronstar]

Don't have a bucket list. I've generally been happy with experiences and places that I wanted to do. Most of our trips involve a lot of outside activities - so it's a little disappointing when you're in a new place and the weather isn't cooperating. Other than that, all is well.

 

[wearefinishedworking]

The most beautiful moon-less sky I ever experienced was while sitting in a hot tub at a remote cabin near the base of Mt. Hood. It was a moment that I re-live quite often.

 

[TheWizard]

I'm still looking for the perfect vehicle. The right look/style, performance, options... I've had a few that came close recently but no cigar, yet.

A Mustang convertible could be the right one. I have an '08 now and hope to factory order a '24 later this year...

 

[Jerry1]

No real bucket list here. Also, I generally have low expectations of things do not really disappointed too often. I would like to step foot in every State in the U.S., but given my medical situation, that may be something I will not be able to do, especially Alaska (already did Hawaii). However, that goal doesn’t really have an expectation. One thing that I did see that was underwhelming was Niagara Falls. We spent two nights there and could have spent a few hours there.

 

[athena53]

I don't have a bucket list- just trying to visit as many countries as I can! I'd say I've had more delightful surprises than disappointments. The disappointments have been mostly in overcrowded tourist sites- the Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay, the Sistine Chapel. Of course, I contribute to the tourist numbers so how can I complain?

I occasionally take organized tours or get a private guide so I can learn more about what I'm seeing but some of my best times have been just wandering, people-watching, looking in shop windows, etc. My last trip to Paris was a 2-day side trip from Edinburgh. It was mostly wandering and I loved it. I've been to Paris 3 times. Haven't been up in the Eiffel Tower yet. Life is too short to wait in those lines.

ETA: My first trip to the Taj Mahal was with 3 work colleagues. All were locals but none had been there! One remembered a poem about a man who dreamt of seeing the Taj Mahal for years, finally set out to visit, and stopped and turned back home when he was a few miles away because he was afraid it wouldn't live up to his dreams. That was another crowded spot but well worth visiting on a nice day because the grounds are spacious.

 

[Car-Guy]

My bucket list is complete so now I take it as it comes. Speaking of which, one of my most unexpected experiences, that I think of often, was while on one of my many business trips to the Bay Area. One night, I went to dinner at a restaurant that happen to be located near the foot of the Bay Bridge in SF. It was a nasty cold evening, drizzling rain but the view from inside the restaurant was incredible of the lighted bridge with the rain falling. I've gone back a few times for the experience but it's never been like the first time. Maybe the conditions were just perfect that night with the cold and rain, but I think of it often.

 

[arcyallen]

I always wanted to work a lot with dogs - be a dog walker, volunteer a lot, etc. But dog walking (for others) requires committing some time, and since I've FIRE'd I really don't like tying myself down to a regular schedule. So I still need to find the balance there.

 

[Car-Guy]

A Mustang convertible could be the right one. I have an '08 now and hope to factory order a '24 later this year...

Very nice, but not for me....I got very close to my dream vehicle last year with the TRX I bought but there were a few things I didn't like, and a few options that I wish it had... But it was close. Maybe I'll order another one like I want and fix the one or two things the factory won't allow.

 

[Aerides]

Hmm, this might not strike a chord except for the younger nerdier subgroup, but I was hoping to play a really good MMORPG after I retired and had time to spends days straight in something fairly challenging with good end game that I could play weeks on end. These kinds of games were all over the place while I was undergrad, and I had to cut my time with them short once I switched to preparing for a career/an even more difficult degree at the end of undergrad. I didn't realize that was the golden period for MMO's.

Have you tried FFXIV?

 

[tenant13]

No bucket list here but last year I bought a car and embarked on what was going to be months long epic Road Trip across US (and back). I survived 3 months but once it became clear I hated driving, despised camping, couldn't find edible food outside of big cities and had zero interest in visiting yet another small town consisting of Main Street, City Hall, church and a diner, I threw in the towel, turned back and happily took off for Europe.

 

[folivier]

Bucket list? It's almost full and I'm just 68+ and retired at the end of 55. I've been trying to fill it while still healthy enough to enjoy it.
Only a couple things left: spend a month+ in Australia. Maybe the Antarctic. That's about it. Oh yeah spent a couple months in Alaska and didn't get to see the Arctic sea. Or the polar bears. Did see the Northern lights and brown bears.
Did climb the pyramid at Chichen Itza years ago. Even went inside but that was a similar experience that Gumby had. Bent over, narrow, sliding (literally since it was so hot and everyone was sweating profusely) past people coming back out. Once in the temple area crowded inside to see the sacrificial platform.
One thing I've realized in our motorhome travels is there is way more stuff out there once you get off of the crowded path that most tourists see.