Sep
2012
Bucket List Year
My Birthday’s in 2 weeks! Yippee!
Actually, I’m not much of a birthday person….I usually get slightly depressed for not making the previous year more exciting than it was. I can be really hard on myself about practically everything and birthday’s usually make it worse. BUUTTT, I digress.
This year, I’ve decided that this will be my Bucket List Year, the year that I cross some “life” things that I’ve been really wanting to do off my list. ‘Cause why put them off any longer? Why not do them this year?!
I did cross a few things off last year– starting a blog, signing charlie up for therapy dog class (even though it didn’t work out so well, poor guy), ran a half marathon, had a 2-month gluten-free experiment, learned to sew with a sewing machine, came suuuuper close to publishing something (ugh, don’t want to talk about this one), made a “This is Your Life” movie for my dad’s birthday, ran in the Turkey Trot (always wanted to do this), and crossed a few states off my list towards my goal of visiting all 50 states. The last year feels a bit like a blur, so I’m sure I have other things to add that I can’t think about right now.
This year though, I’m planning to cross the things off that have been on my list for a while (and that I really, really want to do, not just would like to do…if that makes sense….)
Here are the things I want to do this Bucket List Year:
1) See Fall Foliage in New England
This has been at the TOP of my list for a while now. Here in California, we don’t get any sort of fall foliage– sure, some leaves change and it looks pretty, but it’s nothing like what you get in states with real seasons. I’m obsessed with how beautiful it is and have been wanting and wanting to go for a while. So why not this year? My good friend Amanda lives in Boston, so I booked a trip out for Columbus Day weekend and we’re gonna go do all the fall-foliage-stuff. I’m so excited. Fingers crossed that it won’t rain that weekend (cause I feel like that will ruin it). I know Columbus Day wknd sounds early, but supposedly it’s been a dry year so the peak is early (and it’s a 3-day wknd so we both have monday off). Fingers crossed. I just booked my ticket today- yeah!
2) Play Tennis
Yes, for a while now, I’ve been doing the– “I really want to play tennis more regularly and become good someday.” Yes, the dreaded someday that I hate using. Well, why not today? I’ve always played causally, taken lessons, but haven’t had a tennis parter to practice with…so I never get good. I’m not really sure if I’m going to take lessons again or just find a hitting partner, but by this time next year, I want to say that I DO play tennis.
3) Become a Better Skiier
Every year, I stick to the same slopes. They’re a little better than bunny slopes, but still the green circle beginner. Seriuosly, the past four years, I’ve skiied exactly one run at Squaw Valley (where we ski)- Gold Coast- and I just go up and down it. It is getting soooo old and boring. I don’t care if I ever get really good, but I want to at least have more variety and feel more comfortable on my skies. It’s time.
4) Run 5k Distance Regularly and Comfortably
Not 5k races particularly, just to be comfortable running 3 miles regularly (aka 2-3 times per week). I’m not a runner. I ran a half last fall, then stopped running for a while, then slowly came back….but I want to keep it up and not lose it. I’ve been running lately, but I want to make it regular and stick with it at least until January. A lot of it has to do with the feeling of accomplishment– something about taking a run in the morning, setting out to run 3 miles, and finishing it- that makes me feel like I’ve done something tangible that I’m proud of in the mornings. And I like starting the day off right.
Eating bananas and taking your shoes off are essential post-run
5) Start a Garden.
One of the big reasons I look forward to a time when I don’t live in the City is that I really want to grow some fruits and veggies! I am so jealous of all my friends’ gardens. I don’t have a green thumb by any means, but I am a Virgo (aka an earth sign) if you believe in that stuff and really, I just like planting things, watching them grow, and being around them. I must say, I inherited a ton of plants from Jared (they’re all sitting in a big corner of the living room) and we really don’t have any space in the apartment to put any more, but I’m going to do it anyways and grow something edible (indoor basil, maybe?) this year as a start. Good?
This is the plant that sits on my desk at work. I promise to take much better care of all my other plants (and this one too) this year!
I’ll stick with these 5 for now. I have some others that I’m considering adding— Enter the Pillsbury Bake-Off (who cares if I win or not, it’s fun just to enter), ride a hot air balloon, see the US open (tennis), and other trips I want to take (Thailand? Morocco? Egypt?), etc but I think that’ll have to wait until I think it through more before I committ to them for this year. My bucket list is long…I might as well save some for other years 
Soooo……
What’s on your bucket list? What’s on the top?
What have you crossed off lately?
What month is your birthday in? Are you a Birthday Person?
19 Comments on Bucket List Year
2Pingbacks & Trackbacks on Bucket List Year
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[...] I’m leaving for Boston tonight! It might not be the fall foliage trip I dreamed of (aka, it’s a little early in the season, plus it’s supposed to rain…), but [...]
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[...] thought today was a good day to revisit my “Bucket Year List” that I made on my birthday six months. To recap, it was a list of 5 things I have always [...]
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Alex @ therunwithin
September 6, 2012 at 4:28 pm (254 days ago)what an awesome idea, I love all of these. take me to new england with you, i miss home!
Stacie @ Snaps and Bits
September 6, 2012 at 5:34 pm (254 days ago)Those are some awesome goals! New England in the fall is gorgeous! I still miss CA though
I want to do the Avon walk some day but kid duties seem to get in my way. I’ll do it someday though!
Luv What You Do
September 6, 2012 at 7:42 pm (254 days ago)Last year, I crossed marathon off my bucket list and coming up, I’m thinking a half ironman…but I am still in the thinking phase : ) Other things on my list…definitely learning to play tennis, visiting wine country, and write a story.
I’m a moderate Birthday person. I love an excuse to celebrate with freinds and of course bake, but I don’t go too crazy about it. I do find myself a little more introspective around my brithday…especially now that I am in my 30′s. I love the buket list idea. You should def enter the bake off!!!
Rebecca
September 7, 2012 at 10:18 am (253 days ago)You must visit wine country!! (and then come to sf to hang out with me
Luv What You Do
September 8, 2012 at 6:39 pm (252 days ago)I will! It is my plan to make way from San Fran to Vancouver next spring, and I will need some suggestions for sure!
Rebecca
September 11, 2012 at 7:32 am (249 days ago)Awesome!
Jodea
September 7, 2012 at 12:00 am (253 days ago)This year I crossed off New York and owning my own home. My birthday is in October and I think I might create a proper bucket list. It’s so easy to forget the big things we want to achieve when we get caught up in the every day stresses! Top of the list is to take a year off and travel the world… J
Rebecca
September 7, 2012 at 10:17 am (253 days ago)Owning my own home is def on there for me too- lucky that you got to do it already! Taking a year off to travel the world would be AMAZING!!!
Apples and Arteries
September 7, 2012 at 4:50 am (253 days ago)Boston in Fall – how fun! I have zero green thumb and gave up on plants and gardening a long time ago. Thank goodness for the farmers market
Have a great weekend.
Rebecca
September 7, 2012 at 10:16 am (253 days ago)Agreed– we’ll see how my things turn out…I’m thinking positive, but not expecting much (esp from them living my city apartment!)
Sabrina @Work It Ms Jackson
September 7, 2012 at 7:14 am (253 days ago)This is a great idea. I may have to do this for my birthday!
The fall foliage in New England is GORGEOUS! I’m from Mass and I really miss. Luckily I’ll be there in October for my cousin’s wedding during peak season. Ask your friend to take you to Western Mass (it’s about 2 hours from Boston and where I’m from) or Vermont. The mountains have beautiful fall foliage. And I can’t wait to here how you like it.
Rebecca
September 7, 2012 at 10:16 am (253 days ago)Thanks for the tip!! If you know any specific spots, I’d love suggestions!
Claire @ Let's Go On A Living Spree
September 7, 2012 at 9:20 am (253 days ago)The fall foliage in New England is one of the biggest things I miss from living in Boston! Heck I miss everything up there. We get some nice foliage here in Virginia but it’s not the same! Sounds like it’ll be a blast!
Rebecca
September 7, 2012 at 10:15 am (253 days ago)I’m super excited…I loved the foliage when I lived in DC….compared to CA, it’s amazing!
Jen@HealthyFoodandFamily
September 7, 2012 at 11:50 am (253 days ago)Awesome list for the year! Happy early birthday
Rebecca
September 8, 2012 at 1:47 pm (252 days ago)Thanks!!
helennaturally
September 8, 2012 at 6:08 pm (252 days ago)I think those are great bucket list items. I totally experienced a bucket list moment with the bestie today, she ran her first 5K with me!! I was so happy for her and glad I was there
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
September 9, 2012 at 4:59 am (251 days ago)What a fun post idea and Happy Early Birthday. You are going to love the fall foliage; it can be so beautiful. I’m glad I live in a place where I get to enjoy all four seasons. Good luck on the garden and with the plant. I have 20 plus plants so if you ever need advice….
Kate
September 11, 2012 at 7:48 am (249 days ago)Those are some pretty good goals! You got this. I’d love to garden some day too, but I have a definite black thumb.