What's On Your Bucket List?
By pumpkinjam
@pumpkinjam (8768)
United Kingdom
July 5, 2019 5:11am CST
A discussion by @moffittjc about a postponed skydive inspire me to post this. You can see Jeff's discussion here:
https://www.mylot.com/post/3287809/my-first-skydive-postponed-due-to-weather
I have a bucket list that seems to get longer the more I tick off it! Jeff's discussion was about skydiving, which is something I have done so that is one thing ticked off my list.
Another thing I tried was abseiling. While I enjoyed skydiving, I don't think I will be doing it again but I will certainly abseil again if I get the chance.
There are countless things I would love to do. Some of them 'exciting', others, perhaps, would be considered somewhat mundane. I am excited to go to another country for the first time next month. I'm going to Spain but, if I'm OK with the flying, I plan on adding visits to Japan, Netherlands, and other places to my list.
I'd also love to fly in a helicopter. I want to learn to fly, I want to learn more about archery (I've just completed the beginner course so I can safely use a bow and arrow, and I plan on becoming a member of my local group).
I've acted and sang on stage, which I know is a popular thing that people aspire to do. I've watched my children do the same.
Earlier this year, I travelled alone to the beach where I had a day out with a friend - you may be surprised that this is something I'd never done before. On my joint bucket list with my friend, I plan on experiencing an underground zipwire.
There are so many things I would love to do, including some things I've done before.
So, I ask, what is on your bucket list?
What, if anything, have you ticked off your bucket list?
And would you do it again? Did it inspire you to get involved in something more?
Is there anything that you regret doing or not doing?
Attached is a picture of me abseiling last year. I think my sister took it.
33 people like this
34 responses
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
5 Jul 19
Please tell me about the things that you have done, if you would like to share. It may give me some more ideas and inspiration as well as a chance to learn more about you 
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
5 Jul 19
@LadyDuck Wow, so many amazing things. Is a bayou like a stream? I would really love to fly in a helicopter. Not sure I could stay awake for 48 hours - I can barely stay awake for 8 hours some days!
I've got a list of railways to visit - mostly the heritage steam railways here in England but I might add Pilatus to my list. There are also rivers and cruises I'd like to do. I once went on a boat along the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wales, which is the longest and highest navigable aqueduct in the world. That was when my eldest son was little but I'd love to do it again. My eldest son has been to the top of a volcano (along with his travels to lots of other places).I'm sure you have some wonderful photos.
@LadyDuck (471494)
• Switzerland
5 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam I have flown in an helicopter, I have stayed awake during 48 hours, skipped dinner, went to dance and then to the beach to enjoy the sunrise. I rode on the Pilatus railway, the steepest and most dangerous little mountain train (it's here in Switzerland). I hiked on the top of a volcano, I paddled in the bayous. I am sure I forget things, I should look at my old photos.
8 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
10 Jul 19
@Melanie_Marie Alfredo did mention in another discussion that he might take a break. He's getting on a bit! Perhaps we'll hear from him on his return.
2 people like this
@Melanie_Marie (1871)
• New Baltimore, Michigan
10 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam He was just about to start explaining it too.
I ............
Come on, Alfredo
2 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
8 Jul 19
Mine used to be like that. I have seen a lot of places in England and Wales, and I'd like to see other places, but I found I was spending a lot of time 'seeing' when I wanted to be 'doing'.
What sort of places do you want to see? Countries, cities, monuments?
4 people like this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
8 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam We'd like to visit the Cape Canaveral in Florida, the Space Center in Alabama, the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, return to see the Garden of the Gods in Colorado again, the Red Wood forest in California, Seattle and the Space Needle, Vancouver, BC and Granville Island, and the list goes on.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jul 19
It's funny, I've always thought I was well educated, but I actually had to look up the definition of abseiling, as I've never heard of it. But surprisingly, it's something I have done many, many times, and still do on occasion! But here in the US we call it rappelling. I first learned how to when I was in Boy Scouts, and then did it for a living when I was an outdoor adventure guide, and now do it on occasion in my role as an urban search and rescue specialist.
Other things on your list that I've done include traveling to many different countries, flying in a helicopter (I've actually rappelled out of a helicopter), flying in an open cockpit biplane from WWI, acting on stage, swimming with sharks, and training as an archer for the Olympics (I didn't qualify).
I've also done quite a bit of spelunking (caving) and underwater cave diving (SCUBA diving). But oddly, I've found that as I've gotten older, I've become somewhat claustrophobic, so I haven't explored any caves in quite a while.
My current passion that I have recently crossed off my bucket list is becoming a professional paintball player and playing with the best teams and best players in the world.
Future bucket list goals include visiting the North and South Poles, surfing the North Shore in Hawaii (some of the biggest waves in the world), backpacking my way across Europe, and hiking the entire coastline of Florida (the state I live in). I've recently had knee surgery, so we'll see how much longer my knees can hold up to do all these wild and crazy activities!
Nice post by the way, and thanks for the mention!
6 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
7 Jul 19
@moffittjc I currently live in the Midlands. I don't know if you know any of the places in England but where I live is about 20 miles from Birmingham, which is known as England's 'second city'. We are hoping to move to the South East, though, but that's going to be a few years off.
4 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
6 Jul 19
You sound wonderfully adventurous! My youngest son has been abseiling with his Scout troop. Rappelling and abseiling are the same but rappelling is used more commonly in the US while abseiling is more common in Europe. I had heard the word 'rappelling' but it didn't occur to me that 'abseiling' wasn't the usual word!
I'm not sure I'd rappel out of a helicopter. It looks awesome when I've seen it on videos but that's double-crazy. My partner has been swimming with sharks (his late partner was a marine biologist and he'd sometimes travel as a medic with her on her trips) but it's not something I've done - yet. I'd love to swim with dolphins, too.
And spelunking (that's a brilliant word), I love spelunking. It's not something I've done much or done properly. I have been down Wookey Hole Caves in Somerset. That was good but I'd really like to explore some less know caves. I know my eldest son has been to others such as Cheddar Gorge (also in Somerset).
It is strange how we change as we get older. I'm happy to try out all these adventures but I've gone off going on rollercoasters! Well, I went on a little one recently with my 6 year old niece.
I hope that your knees hold out so that you can get to do all the other things you want to do. If you do backpack across Europe, look me up if you get to England!
4 people like this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam I work for the government, and I serve on a urban search and rescue task team. It's not my full-time job, we only get activated in emergencies, but we train all year long. Many of our training missions are with the military, so we get to do fun stuff like rappel out of helicopters and down the sides of buildings and such. Last year, when Hurricane Irma slammed into Florida, the damage and devastation was so bad that we could only get into communities by helicopter. It too close to a week for the military to catch up to us by vehicle, but by then we had already rescued hundreds of people.
What part of England do you live in?
4 people like this
@thelme55 (77081)
• Germany
5 Jul 19
My bucket list is not long anymore. On top of my bucket list is going to visit the Rhine Falls in Switzerland and the Niagara Falls in the side of Canada. Going to Switzerland is not as expensive than going to Canada and so the Rhine Falls might be next year. I still have to save first. Good luck to your bucket list.
5 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
5 Jul 19
Are there things that you have already done, then, that were on your list? I hope you do get to the places you want to go. My partner's dad recently came back from a trip to Canada. I'm still waiting to see his photos. He did say that the Canadian side of Niagara Falls is much more impressive than the US side!
I like to travel and discover different places. I've been to lots of places in England and Wales but nowhere else as yet. I'm trying to get experiences to 'do' things as much as 'see' things.
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
5 Jul 19
@thelme55 I am working on it. I'm sure much of mine will be fulfilled but, as it keeps getting longer, I might have to narrow it down a little bit!
3 people like this
@thelme55 (77081)
• Germany
5 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam Yes, there are already. Like going to Rome, Milan, England, Ireland, Netherlands and many other places. That is why I would like to go to that Canadian side of the Niagara Falls. I hope your bucket list will be fulfilled.
5 people like this
@arunima25 (87819)
• Bangalore, India
6 Jul 19
I too have a long list and luckily I have ticked off a few on the list. Bungee jumping is one that I have dropped off the list.
5 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
6 Jul 19
Did you enjoy bungee jumping? That's not on my list. It's one thing that my partner and I have both said does not appeal to us at all!
3 people like this
@arunima25 (87819)
• Bangalore, India
6 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam I couldn't do it. I got scared and so I dropped it from the list.
3 people like this
@arunima25 (87819)
• Bangalore, India
6 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam I couldn't do it. I got scared and so I dropped it from the list.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
6 Jul 19
I do not really have a bucket list. I do not have a fear of flying, but I do not like the poking and prodding if they decide to see if I am a terrorist. I have only visited Canada and Mexico as foreign countries. There are tons of things to do just in the US. I might like a cruise, though. I think I would like to take a variety of new classes.
5 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
8 Jul 19
Some people's 'bucket list' is just to try something new or to complete something they have started. One of my personal challenges is to complete things before I start other things.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
6 Jul 19
you're so adventurous. i guess it's like hiking up a mountain. you start with the smallest, then go higher and higher. same with running. you eventually want to do a marathon.
5 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
6 Jul 19
I never used to be adventurous. I don't know if it was that I wasn't or that I didn't know. In recent years, I have done different things and added to the things I'd like to do. In fact, I was looking at a place not far away that does different things including indoor skydiving and scuba diving. I'd forgotten that I had previously considered scuba diving. I never did get to do it, though, as I wasn't able to get to it at the times the place was open. Now I've found another place, I might put that back on my list.
I didn't quite start with the smallest thing, either. I kind of did things backwards as my first crazy stunt was a skydive, then abseiling. I did do a charity walk years ago. At the time, I planned on working up to a run but then decided I don't like running! Well, I was overweight when I did the walk and had assumed that was why running was uncomfortable. After losing weight, running was still uncomfortable!
3 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
6 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam i know someone whose first and last bunjee jump was at macau. said she's been wanting to try it since she saw it on a local reality show when she was just 11 or 12. didn't expect her to do it in such spectacular fashion.
4 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
17 Jul 19
@hereandthere Wow, I always saw I would like to do something I see on tv but I don't really mean it.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
6 Jul 19
That sounds amazing. Around the world? Does that mean you have visited every country? Did you have a favourite country or favourite experience? Would you do any of those things again?
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37355)
• Toccoa, Georgia
6 Jul 19
I have a few places I would like to visit.
4 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
8 Jul 19
Which places would you like to visit?
3 people like this
@CookieMonster46 (13454)
• United States
6 Jul 19
I do not have a bucket list, I guess I am not ready. There will be a time when I am and figure it out then, I guess.
5 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
6 Jul 19
Mine started when someone else volunteered me for the skydive. Then, I think, I got the adventure bug and I've just picked up ideas of things I'd love to do, and worked on gaining the confidence (and the funds and the waiting for the kids to grow up) to do them.
3 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
8 Jul 19
@CookieMonster46 I have no idea what direction my life is going in so I'll make some plans and make them happen!
3 people like this
@CookieMonster46 (13454)
• United States
7 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam I guess at one time, I would have planned one, but I am uncertain of my future, where I will be later in life and what is going to happen.
So If something comes my way, I will just do it if I can do it and take the experience.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340278)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Jul 19
Good for you for having done so much. I've zip-lined under a viaduct and over a (small) river and really enjoyed it. Something I've ticked off my bucket list was attending a performance of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Here's me on the zipline.
5 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
8 Jul 19
Where is that zip-line? It looks a very beautiful place.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (340278)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam It was at or near Ile de Jordain, in France.
4 people like this
@janethwayne (5191)
• Philippines
6 Jul 19
To travel is in my bucket list but need to save.
4 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
17 Jul 19
@ramapo17 Doing what you love is great but getting paid for it is definitely a bonus!
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
8 Jul 19
Yes, saving is important. It's great to be adventurous but rather frustrating when you don't have the funds. I am working on saving, though. I hope that you can save and travel until your heart's content.
3 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
17 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam I was lucky enough to have traveled to so many countries and making money while doing it.I would still love to travel more but now I would have to pay for it.
1 person likes this
@erictsuma (9726)
• Mombasa, Kenya
5 Jul 19
I have a long list but I love to become famous writer in future.
5 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
5 Jul 19
Oh, I forgot to put that on my list. I meant to say that one of my ambitions is to publish a book. I'm working on it, and I have published smaller things, but it's taking longer than planned!
Do you write already? What do you like to write?
@KristenH (33385)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
10 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam That's a cool goal. Have you thought of querying your book to agents?
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
7 Jul 19
Honestly? The only thing on my bucket list is to get to heaven. I believe it exists. I believe the descriptions I've read about it. I wanna go there and stay there!
4 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
8 Jul 19
Fair enough. But is there nothing you'd like to do on Earth? Enjoy something in life before you get to heaven?
3 people like this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
9 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam - I would like to see all of my children have the peace and blessing of God, on this earth, in this life. I don't really need or want anything for myself.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
8 Jul 19
If you are going to take those opportunities when they are available, I don't suppose you would need a bucket list!
3 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Jul 19
Nice. I sure don't want to sky dive. My bucket list is basically unwritten at the moment. I will have to consider how many years I may have remaining and start with something easy like building an enclosed green house. And a few bird houses. That is a start I think. But I do really want to get a piano. And play to my heart's content. I need to learn guitar at the moment. I own an acoustic.
4 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
8 Jul 19
Learning to play instruments is a good thing to do. I'd love to play the piano. I taught myself to play keyboard when I was younger but never got very good. I also own an acoustic guitar, and have done since I was about 14. I had lessons but, again, didn't get very good at that either although I would love to take lessons again.
I hope you do learn and complete all the things you want to do.
3 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
8 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam I do too. If I ever get a piano one day I will play it every day and night. I have 2 keyboards, electronic but they are boring.
3 people like this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
5 Jul 19
Mine would be visiting the Hundred Islands in my country. Ita been very long time I didn't visit the stunning place of the islands.
4 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
5 Jul 19
I just looked up Hundred Islands. It looks beautiful. So many people want to travel to other countries but many miss what is on their own doorstep.
3 people like this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
5 Jul 19
Its really a stunning place in my region, around 5 hours travel from my place.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (178869)
• United States
5 Jul 19
I've ticked off 2 things. I flew in a float plane and I fed 2 giraffes by hand. I had a lot of travel bucket list items; but we waited too long to start; and now I can't travel. Never did get my children's book published because I needed illustrations.
4 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
5 Jul 19
It is a shame that you are no longer able to travel. My partner is not able to do all of the things I want to do, even though he is exactly the person I would love to do them with. Thankfully, for him, he has already had so many wonderful experiences.
What is a float plane? Did you enjoy that?
I have fed some animals by hand, including goats and deer, but I don't think I've ever fed a giraffe. There is a local (ish) place that has plans, in the next few years, to build a hotel in the giraffe enclosure where people can see the giraffes out of their windows. They are my eldest granddaughter's favourite animal so I would love to take her there.
Surely it's not too late to get your book published. I'm still waiting for illustrations for a story to go on my blog. I asked my partner, who said that he would do it but then forgot and then said he didn't think he'd be able to do it. So I asked my youngest son, who said he would do it but I might need to remind him!
4 people like this
@LindaOHio (178869)
• United States
5 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam Riding in a float plane was awesome. The take-offs and landings are the fun part. That hotel sounds great! I love giraffes. I don't know anyone who's artistic; so I would have to pay a professional to get the book illustrated; and it's just too prohibitive.
4 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8768)
• United Kingdom
6 Jul 19
People who are scared of heights have done skydiving and abseiling. It's akin to a nurse being scared of needles or blood. My partner was in the medical corps with the British Army and he can't stand needles!
A road trip sounds good, though. I don't know how big your country is but I don't think it would take very long to do a road trip of my country - it would be interesting.
3 people like this
