Everyone should have a Bucket List. Yours can be an amazing bucket list with these ideas.
A Bucket List for a 20-year-old will likely be very different from a Bucket List for a person 60 years old. To do it over, I wish I had started a bucket list when I was in my twenties.
A person in their thirties might have a Bucket List with any number of the following ideas in it.
- Retire at 45
- Climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
- Visit every country in the world
- Own a Ferrari before my 50th birthday.
- Become President of the United States.
A Bucket List can be written out in a few minutes. Usually, a person making a bucket list may have thought about it for a while, but not yet written it down. For others, it can take a long time to come up with a list. If you have a life-threatening disease, it may be that you start a long bucket list, hoping that you have time to finish the list. Instead of a Bucket List, you can also refer to your list as a “Before I Go to Heaven List.”
The following are some suggestions, not only for those who have a hard time coming up with a list but also for those who know exactly what they plan to put on their list. You never know when you will find an idea that is more exciting or more of what you really would like to do. But, this is not a list to copy everything down, only the ones that appeal to you. These should be something that you believe you can do, or at least you want to try to accomplish. Start out small and expand as you get new ideas.
Vacation Ideas
Maybe it’s as simple as my bucket list idea – to visit every state in the United States. By visiting, I do not mean driving through the state. What I mean is spending a few nights in the state, in different areas and seeing some of that that state is famous for, whether if be food, festivals, state parks, museums, etc. Basically, I need to see some things that I will never forget. At this time I have visited 21 states, with 29 remaining.
- Travel to every state in the United States.
- Take a cruise through the Panama Canal.
- Visit the country or countries your ancestors came from, and explore for a month. Or at least a week.
- Take a Mediterranean cruise.
- Visit every continent in the world.
- Visit every country in the world.
- Travel to Iceland and/or Greenland.
- Take a trip in a hot air balloon.
- Visit every MLB baseball stadium and watch a game. Preferably you would watch your team, but if that’s not possible, watch someone else. Or do the same for football, soccer, or basketball.
- Go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
- Go Glamping (fancy camping) on your next vacation. Try it out for a night. This could be your new way to travel.
- Travel to see the Aurora Borealis, AKA Northern lights. Some of the best places to see them are in Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Yukon, Canada. If you want to stay in the United States, try Alaska, either by land or on a cruise. If money is no object, try going to the North Pole and stay at the North Pole Igloos Hotel. The price for one night is over $100,000, but I’m sure the view is priceless.
Challenging Ideas
Challenging can be something that is something that a typical person may not see as something exciting to do. Or it could be simple enough, but you have never tried it before.
- Skydive for your first time or your 100th time.
- Learn how to fly a plane or helicopter.
- Learn how to water ski or snow ski.
- Design your dream home, and have it built just the way you always dreamed it would look like.
- Climb one of the tallest peaks in the world. Maybe Mount Kilamanjaro?
- Become President of the United States.
- Retire at age 45.
- Become a frequent rider of ziplines.
- Become debt-free. Retirement is oh so much nicer when you have no bills to pay.
- Learn how to scuba dive and find some beautiful places to do it.
Educational Ideas
Educational ideas will involve you learning something new, not necessarily at a college. Learning something new is such a great way to keep active and especially, keep your brain active.
- There is no time like the present to get that degree you never finished, whether your 4-year college degree, your master’s, or your doctorate. You are never too old, and you may never have had as much time in your life, previously, to study.
- Take cooking classes throughout the United States or the world. Once you feel confident in your new skills, throw a dinner party and wow your guests with your new skills.
- Plant a vineyard and learn how to make wine. Haven’t you always thought about making a unique wine with your own brand name on it?
- Learn another language. Once you feel confident with your skills, you might want to take a vacation to a country where the language is spoken to see how well you did.
- Is there a business you always wished you could start? Learn everything about it and either start your own business or get a part-time job working at that type of business.
- Learn a new skill like woodworking or crochet. Maybe take up knitting or quilting. Start with lessons at a junior college or craft/sewing store.
- Learn sign language. It could come in handy one day.
Relaxing Ideas
With your years of working behind you, now may be the time that you learn how to relax or choose to relax.
- Move to a place you have always wanted to live, whether someplace exotic or away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
- Take up swimming, canoeing, or maybe bicycling.
- Sell your home, purchase a motorhome and travel around the United States, Europe, or another country.
- Buy a vacation home and use it often. Be sure it’s large enough to invite friends and family.
- Buy a yacht. Be sure you consider where you will be storing it.
- Redo your backyard, making it a place you can relax, possibly adding a pool, Gazebo, fountain, built-in kitchen, and/or fire pit.
- Take a nap every day, just because you can.
The things you “never had time for” ideas
When you retire you will possibly have a list of things that you always wanted to do, but never found the time to do them. All those “I’ll get it done next year” things.
- Learn how to play golf or tennis.
- Declutter your home and downsize. Even if you don’t downsize, decluttering is always a good idea.
- Make yourself the best you can be. Start an exercise routine or join a gym. Get a new hairstyle and maybe a new wardrobe.
- Write the history of your family to pass down to your children and grandchildren.
- Learn how to play chess. If you already know how to play, take the time to teach others, like your nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
- Remodel your home.
- Write a book about your life or the life of someone else you know. Or maybe make that book a work of fiction.
- Read all the books you purchased and still haven’t read. Once you have read them, donate them.
- Redo your backyard using crushed rock, garden boxes, planters filled with succulents, cacti, and other plants that require minimal watering. Remove any grass that takes a lot of water to keep it green. It might be possible that your city may pay you to reduce your water use by making these changes that require less water.
- Update your home in as many ways as you can to conserve energy. Upgrading your washer, dryer, water heater, or refrigerator will help, especially that old refrigerator in your garage.
- Update your family tree and then get a copy to each family group.
Creative ideas
I realize not everyone thinks they are creative. However, maybe you are, but you never had the free time to use your creativity.
- Learn how to make jewelry for fun, for gifts, or to sell.
- Start sewing your own clothing.
- Make a rug, either woven, sewn, latch-hooked, or other.
- Paint a landscape to hang on your wall.
- Plant a fairy garden in a section of your yard. Your grandkids will love it.
- Redecorate your bedroom.
- Build a greenhouse in your backyard and start growing your own plants for your garden and planters.
- Fulfill your dream of becoming a stand-up comedian. Find a local hangout that will let you try out for free. This could become your new part-time job.
- Contact Make-a-Wish and see if you can make a child’s wish come true. The whole wish would really be exciting.
Other ideas
I couldn’t find a home for these in the above lists. These are different, but worthy of mentioning.
- Renew your wedding vows.
- If you aren’t already signed up, sign up with the DMV to donate your organs, should you end up unable to survive. You will no longer need them, and wouldn’t it be great to help someone else as your last good deed.
- Donate a kidney or bone marrow while you are still alive. Get on their list(s) so that you are called when you are a match.
- Tell 10 people about your faith.
- A “Before I get to Heaven list” might include ideas like attend each of your grandchildren’s graduation, wedding, etc.
- Live to see all my grandchildren.
- Live to see some/all of my great-grandchildren at least once.
Challenge yourself to something new or return to something you did but got too busy for it. I encourage you to take a few moments and start a bucket list if you have never made one. It doesn’t have to be a long list. Maybe there are only a few things you would like to accomplish. Possibly, you have been waiting for this time to fulfill a long list of bucket items. Take these ideas as a starting place. Or maybe take these ideas to add to your existing bucket list.
Your list should be specific to you. Be prepared for it to change as you grow older. Be sure to check off items on your list once you accomplished them. And remember your “Bucket List” or “Before I Go to Heaven List” are ideas you’d like to do. But there is no guarantee you will finish your list. However, life will be more exciting if you have goals to look forward to as you grow older. Do you have a bucket list? Are there items on this list that you might want to add to yours? Or could you suggest ideas I should add to this list? I would appreciate your comment below. Thank you. Enjoy accomplishing the items on your list.
