How Big Is Your Bucket?

Full-timers and bucket lists - can't have one without the other it seems. While other lifestyles come with bucket lists as well (some are called milestones to reach, others are a list of things to accomplish), the lists of travelers are generally of the "go there, see that" variety.

We are certainly no exception. We have three of these lists: his, hers, ours. Not unlike our lives to this point, we share interests (lots), and have interests that are unique to one of us (fewer).

Fortunately we have found it very easy to support those few separate interests without the need to participate (being dragged into an art gallery kicking and screaming just takes the fun out of it for everyone). Because we are both avid readers, enjoy watching people and nature, and take turns "with" Tessa, there is always something for the non-participant to "do". We also avoid the martyrdom of giving up something one of us wants to do just because the other isn't interested.

So we each have a personal bucket. 

His list

These are about the size of beach pails (mine is pink, with stars). Completely full, you can still carry it in one hand. A reasonable size that can easily be "emptied" over a few years during several slow-paced trips across the country. Some items can even be crossed-off simultaneously when they are located close to each other. We will go to those places and we will see those things.


The ours bucket started out as a one-gallon plastic vessel with a thin metal handle. The kind you use to wash your car. The list is what you would expect in the bucket of two 50ish-year-olds planning to travel the country: Oregon Coast, Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, New England in the Fall, Key West, etc, etc. It includes four-wheeling in Utah and kayaking a swamp in the South, and other somewhat typical adventures along the way.

About a year ago this bucket started getting uncomfortable to carry, even with two hands. That metal handle cut into your hand from the weight of the list. Items "splashed" out even when being very careful.

There are only two choices when this happens: make the list smaller, or the bucket larger. We don't want to miss anything on the list. We have room for a bigger bucket. We can afford a bigger bucket. We should just get a bigger bucket.

So we got a bigger bucket.

 

 
When we made the transfer it was clear the bucket was way too big. The list barely filled a quarter of the large, five-gallon, bright orange utility bucket. No worries, the list has lots of room to spread out now, be comfortable.





Ha!

Lists are created from our exposure to the experiences of others. Some (like most of our original list) come from history classes in school and trips that family and friends took over the years. Stand on Four Corners, see fireflies, walk down Bourbon Street. Some come from documentaries we watch and books we read. See pods of dolphins and tour the old south of Grisham novels. Normal exposure = normal list.

Additions come from interests we develop. Visit every NFL stadium and explore geological wonders like lava tubes and slot canyons. Special interests = special lists.

Then you join the blogosphere of those already living the dream. For every two items on the list there are now nine on the route in between. Off the beaten path. Places where most of your family and friends have not been. Most don't have post cards. Wonderful, amazing places and unique adventures. Blue earth and hidden waterfalls and zip-lines high in the trees. Gi-normous exposure = gi-normous list!

In less than a year that big orange bucket is nearly full. It definitely takes two people to carry it. The handle was clearly not designed for a list this heavy. It may need wheels.

We don't have a rig yet. We haven't pulled out of the driveway. 
 

We're gonna need a bigger bucket....

We aren't getting a bigger bucket. We don't have room. We can't afford it. We don't have time! Not if we want to really enjoy what we see and do. Not if we want to see it and do it before we're ninety. The latter is more of a physical reality than an emotional desire :-).

Comments on every post include "this is going on our bucket list", so I know we can't be alone with our over-flowing bucket. Full timers come in every age and income-bracket now, and all have different exposures and personal interests. Lists will have different items (thank goodness). 

Still, I envision special trailers and racks designed for bigger buckets.





So how big is your bucket? How did you fill it? Does it ever get smaller or do you just keep filling it up?

Never going to be on the list.  Ever.