Making Adventure Happen

We all have aspirational experiences and dreams of what we would do if only X.  In the past, this X for me had a lot to do with wanting to “get ahead”. I never quite defined what that meant.  It was some vague notion of fast career advancement which actually came back to achievement and financial success.  As I’ve made the transition to the way that I am living today, I’ve sung the praises of creating a motivational list of adventures. I’ve also explored experiences instead of things as a good happiness return on investment.  If living life outside the maze is a journey, my list of adventures is the scenery along the way.  It will change over time with some things happily falling off the list and others entering.  I have no illusions about “finishing it”.  After all, if life itself is indeed this evolving adventure, finishing it has dark implications.  So without further ado, I’d like to share some of the meandering adventures added to the list recently.  Some are new and some are just newly added:

Some Recent Additions to My List:

An 18 Month Brewing Experiment:  “To alcohol, the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems. -Homer Simpson.  Hear about my attempt at a beer masterpiece, how beer saves you from the plague, and what I have in common with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

Harry Potter Music School Music is a big part of my life and something powerful to me. See what happens when I join a bunch of like minded songwriters for a Harry Potter like retreat at a castle in the woods.

Hockey Eh!  Read what happens when I join a hockey team with no experience or real skills of any kind. 

I will periodically be updating the list of adventures randomly and without warning. So check out the “Don’t Call It A Bucket List” tab every once in awhile if interested in the blunders and meanderings of yours truly.

Doing Adventures Takes Effort.

I have many more items on my list in the works right now. However, these things take time for planning and scheduling. If I want to learn how to sail for example, I need to do my research and build some relationships. Then I need to find the season and time window that works. I could pay more and buy a manufactured experience but that is not exactly what I’m looking for. Sometimes when you chop your own wood it warms you twice. However, after the preparation, actually doing these things often does not take loads of time or obscene amounts of cash.

Is Cost a Barrier to Adventures?

  Interestingly, most of the things that many people have on their own lists can be accomplished in less than a week and at a cost of $1000 or less.  In fact, I proved this with a little googling of my own of the top ten things that people put on their bucket lists.  I also added a few other common ones that I hear often:

I will grant that a house or a wedding take preparation both financial and otherwise but are these even bucket list items or just life?  What about most of the rest of the list?  I think that many of us think that some day we will write that novel, get six pack abs, or finally learn to play the cello.  I think it is important to realize that those things are free to do and only take your time and prioritization.  You may always earn money but your time is limited.  I guess my message here is that you may have more than you think that you need to start your list now.  After a point, you may also not get much more of what you need by stacking up more dollars. Sometimes it’s better to chop your own wood.

I’d love to hear from you on any of your list items.  Feel free to share in the comments.  Also, I will take any help that I can get.  If you have some ideas or a connection that could help and would like to join me in doing some of the things on the list reach out. I would be most grateful.