Make a List #My500Words #238

Today's Jeff Goins 500 word challenge is to "Just write a list". Writing a list that is 500 words long seems weird because we think of lists as a few short words per item on the list. For my list I have decided to write a bucket list of things to do before I die. Here goes!

Image source: Smile and Shine.

Outlive my Dad!
Dad turned 85 this year - he is 28 years older than me. I want to live at least as long as him and make it to my 90s. I want to be a bad-ass 90 year old biker still riding my Harley-Davidson. I will be 90 in 2049!

Travel

There are so many places in the world that I would like to see for the first time and others that I'd very much like to go back to. I have only ever lived in Ireland and I think the longest time I have ever spent outside this country at any one time was two weeks of holiday. Here's just some places on my list to go to:

Anywhere in Australia New Zealand for scenery Hawaii - just to see those waves Alaska for wilderness The city of Eugene in Oregon The Grand Canyon - again Paris - my fav city Berlin - on my bike Iceland - I think I'd like the climate there Canada - for the vast open country (and to see relatives) Scandinavia - anywhere Scotland - I've only been ever once

Write more books

I mentioned this in a recent post - but I would like to add to my three books. A fourth will come out next year, but after that I'll be looking for opportunities to try another few.

Get better at R

One of the most enjoyable things I did this past academic year was to learn how to use R in Data Analysis. I want to get better at this and use it for deeper data analysis.

Spoil my Grand kids

I used to joke with my daughters that when they have kids I will give them coke, chocolate, and Smarties all the time. While I probably will do this anyway, I'd like to be able to bring them to football matches and show them nice places to go. I think I will still be a teacher to them.

Ride

Riding my motorbike is one of the most enjoyable things that I do. I certainly hope that I can keep going as long as I can. Maybe being a bad-ass biker at 90 is a bit too optimistic, but I'd like to think that I can enjoy long rides well into my 70s. There are several countries in Europe that I have not been to - so I want to add riding my bike in Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, and Norway, to my bucket list.

Go to Mass in St Peter's Square

I loved Rome on my one and only visit - there's so much to see and do. Last time I was there it was just before the election of Pope Francis so there was no papal mass. I'd like to do this.

Retire early

My official retirement age is 67, that's in just over nine years time for me. I'd love to retire at 62 - Roma will be 60 at the same time. I love my work, but I don't see myself as a 66 or 67 year-old teaching to young students.

The above are just a few of the things I'd like to do. There are also things I'd like to do but I'm certain that I would not have the courage to do:

• Take a bungy jump
• Get a tattoo
• Try Sky-diving
• Walk the Camino (I don't think my feet would be able for this)
• Ride a fast motorbike around a racing track
• SCUBA dive again
• Go inside a volcano