“Live like it’s your last day
Sing karaoke and sip some Rosé
This won’t last forever
But if you’re clever
You just might sail away
And live like it’s your last day”
- Jimmy Buffett (2020)
I really enjoyed the recent film on Netflix called “The Life List” in which a woman, following the death of her mother, is forced to revisit and complete her childhood goals, in order to obtain her inheritance. It got me thinking about what would be on my “life list”. While I completed many of my “bucket list” items from my younger days (earn a Black Belt in a martial art, climb Mount Fuji in Japan, see a show at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, visit the Great Pyramids of Egypt, tour the Louvre Museum in Paris, etc.), in my golden years I tend to put things off, and time is passing by. As Jimmy Buffett sang, “Live like it’s your last day”. I decided it’s time for a new “Life List”. The world can get depressing and I’ve found it’s always helpful to have exciting goals to work towards, to help get me out of the doldrums of day-to-day life. I realize that everyone’s goals are different, but after some deep thought and research, here is my personal “Golden Years” top 10 life list:
- RACE TRACK – The first thing on my list I actually found while googling “retirement bucket list items” for ideas. Wouldn’t it be fun to experience the thrill of racing by driving an exotic race car on a professional track! I was never much of a NASCAR guy, but I enjoy driving (and driving fast), so this sounds like fun, and it’s something I probably would not have thought of on my own. At the Pocono Raceway in Northeast Pennsylvania you can book a driving experience on a world-class racetrack in supercars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Their Professional Instructors teach you how to drive the racing line, as you cross ‘Drive a Supercar’ off of your bucket list. I do remember a former work colleague who was killed one weekend in an amateur racing accident, although I don’t recall the specific circumstances. I’m well aware that safety will be important, but I’m excited to give this a shot.
- HOT AIR BALLOON- Next comes something I was always afraid to try because I don’t love heights- ride in a hot air balloon. But I need to live like it’s my last day, right? I really know nothing about hot air ballooning so I’ll have to do some research, but it sounds like a fun adventure. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to convince Eva to go with me, but we’ll see. I did briefly consider parachuting out of a plane, but I don’t think I’d have the courage to jump. And the fear of the chute not opening would be terrifying. I’m sure a hot air balloon has its own risks, but that seems a bit less scary- an achievable goal for me, I think.
- ROCK n ROLL HALL OF FAME- I know; it’s hard to believe I never visited the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Museum. We even had a membership one year, which I used to facilitate getting tickets for the Induction Ceremony in 2016 when Chicago was voted into the Hall, along with Cheap Trick, Deep Purple, and Steve Miller. But the ceremony was held in New York, so we never actually made it to the museum. I just never had a reason to go to Cleveland, and it seemed to be a long trip just to see a museum. But I’m sure there are other interesting things to see in the area, so I’ve got to find some time to take this trip. As a lifelong music fan, this has to be on the list and I just need to give myself a little push to make the trip.
- HELICOPTER RIDE OVER NIAGARA FALLS- Along with riding a hot air balloon, riding in a helicopter was also something that always scared me. I never thought I would do it, but it’s time to get over my fear and give it a shot. I’ve been to Niagara Falls as a child, but Eva has never gone, so it’s on our list of places to visit. A helicopter ride would certainly add an extra thrill to the trip.
- SAPPORO SNOW FESTIVAL- I’ve been to Japan about a dozen times, but I’ve never made it to Sapporo for the winter Ice Festival. It is considered one of the three major snow festivals in the world. The snow and ice sculptures are always the highlight of the snow festival, including figures up to 40 meters wide that you can even climb on. You can explore a giant maze made of snow walls, slide down a long snow-covered hill, stay in a traditional Kamakura snow house, or visit a bar built entirely from ice. If I tackle this one, I’ll need to remember to dress appropriately- a work colleague went to the Festival once and slipped and fell on the ice, breaking her arm.
- ATTEND SUPER BOWL- When the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl this year, I seriously considered going to the game. But the cost scared me away. After watching the pre-game festivities and reports of fans who took the trip, I later regretted my decision. Hopefully the Eagles make it to another Super Bowl, but even if they don’t, I’d really like to go to the big game at some point, just to be part of the world’s biggest sporting event and take in the spectacle of it all.
- TAKE THE GRANDCHILDREN TO DISNEY WORLD- I’ve probably been to the Disney parks at least half a dozen times over the years, as a child, as a parent, and as an older adult. But I think it would a real joy in my senior years to see my grandchildren’s faces as they enter the world of Disney. A bucket list item, for sure! It’s always a special experience. We would also have to include Universal, for the new Super Nintendo World, as they love the world of Mario and Luigi. We have already started planning a vacation to Orlando for next year with the entire family. Hopefully we can pull it off.
- SIT COURTSIDE FOR A SIXERS GAME- I’ve been to a lot of basketball games over the years, but I always thought it would be fun to sit in the front row courtside, where all the VIPS sit. To see the players up close and hear all the courtside banter would be really interesting. I know it will cost a small fortune, but with the Sixers playing so poorly nowadays, it’s probably the best time to try to get the good seats.
- HORSEBACK RIDING- I have many friends who own horses, and I’m sure most of my friends have gone horseback riding at one point or another. As for me, I rode a horse once when I was in Boy Scouts, and Eva tells me we went riding once on a vacation when we first got married- although I honestly have zero recollection of it. Ever since the Christopher Reeve accident in 1995, I’ve had a fear of getting on a horse. Not that I would be doing anything daring, but the possibility of a horse taking off with me on it or throwing me off is a bit scary. I think it’s time to get over my fear and get back on the horse, as the saying goes. I love watching those old TV Westerns, and whenever I see them riding horses, I think that would be fun to try again. I think a slow old horse would be a perfect match!
- BARCLAY PRIME- Although I rarely eat red meat, I’m a Philly guy so I can’t resist an occasional cheese steak. I wanted to include on my bucket list an item about eating at one of the premier restaurants in Philadelphia and I remembered reading about Barclay Prime, an upscale steakhouse located in Philadelphia near Rittenhouse Square, founded by restaurateur Stephen Starr. The steakhouse has Wagyu beef and is known for having a menu item which offers what is reportedly the most expensive cheesesteak in the world, at $140. It consists of “Wagyu rib-eye, foie gras, onions, truffled cheese whiz and a half-bottle of champagne”. Ridiculous? Sure. But I have to try it just once. This makes the list!
So there you have it- a few things that I’d like to work towards over the next few years. Some are easier than others. I omitted a few things that initially seemed like good ideas but I would probably never realistically do, like going to Times Square on New Years Eve. There are certainly a few “stretch” objectives here, testing my fears as well as my finances, but I’m up for the challenge. There are many other things I’d like to do and dozens of places I’d like to visit, but it’s hard to do it all. One thing at a time. I’ll try to post updates as I knock some items of the list.
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