1. Take 20 different classes
(These can be things I’ve never done before or something I’d like to learn to do better. Classes I’ve mentioned farther down this list do not count toward the total.)
#1 – Zan Rolls Sushi
2. Learn to swim
(Please note: I get horrible motion sickness on boats, and even when I’m just standing in water. Previous attempts at swimming lessons have been cut short because I feel like I’m going to barf after about 15 minutes. Whoever teaches me to swim will have to be very patient, and also willing to do short lessons over a longer number of days. Or else cure my motion sickness.)
3. Do at least 1 unassisted pull-up
(Strength! Yeah!)
4. Use chopsticks without embarrassment
(I can pick up sushi, that’s about it.)
5. Become conversational in Spanish
(Previous experience: I took Spanish in high school and college.)
6. Once I become conversational in Spanish, take a trip to a Spanish-speaking country and interact with locals
7. Complete a difficult hike
8. Ride in a helicopter
9. Live in another country again for at least six months
(I spent five months in Amsterdam in 2004)
10. Watch 50 documentaries
(In process)
11. Take a self-defense class
12. Ride a horse
(Taking a simple ride while on vacation doesn’t count. I’d like to learn how to put on a saddle, and a bridle, and ride…fast. This will be scary.)
13. Throw a surprise party
14. Host a party at my house
I hosted a bachorlette party for a friend in March 2011 and threw myself a large birthday party in June 2010.
15. Take another long road trip in the U.S.
(I’ve made two round-trip cross-country drives, from Virginia to California and back, so I’ve crossed the U.S. four times already. I’ll take a new route next time.)
16. Learn to drive a motorcycle
(I don’t necessarily want to buy one, but I’d like to know how to ride.)
17. Ice skate on a frozen lake
18. Eat sushi in Japan
19. Appear in a movie or TV show
(Serving as an extra would count, even if I don’t see my face on-screen.)
20. Walk along the Great Wall of China
21. Learn to make excellent crepes
(This lesson took place in late November 2010, but I wrote the post in February 2011)
22. Make homemade marshmallows
(Sounds sticky! But also fun.)
23. Make macaroons
24. Learn how to handle and take care of a gun (including loading/unloading, shooting, and cleaning)
(I’ve been to shooting ranges a few times, but that’s the extent of my knowledge.)
25. Visit 10 new locations in/around Washington, DC (restaurants don’t count)
(#1: Newseum)
26. Visit Philadelphia
(I went to Philly with my friend Justin in October 2010)
27. Visit Boston
28. Visit New Orleans
10 Comments
I think 6 and 7 are in the wrong order. In my experience, the best way to become conversational in a language is to go to the country and interact with the locals. :)
I’m with Jul, 6 and 7 can also be done simultaneously — like a two-week immersion experience somewhere, where you take lessons and also need to communicate with the locals. In any case, sounds like fun!
I also love 14 and 27. Looking forward to hear how everything goes!
I can help in the chopsticks department! The next time I am in DC, let’s do a sushi or Asian-restaurant outing!
Call me whenever you are in Philly! You must try a cheesesteak and a soft pretzel, and Reading Terminal Market is a must-see.
I’ve done many of these, and can recommend #’s 12 and 13 (as long as you don’t own the horse). Definitely do #29…assuming you are talking about ballroom dancing, it’s huge fun…you are welcome to come to our studio any Friday evening to check it out at a party and see if it’s something you really want to do. As for #10, everybody should live overseas for a while just to get the experience of how the rest of the world lives. I lived in Germany for about 9 years in two different periods, and loved it. Good luck!
Come visit me and I will take you to a drive-in movie. ;-)
Add to it as you need. It’s a life list and you can’t define what you want to do in life at a single moment in time.
I love this list…esp the live in another country, and do one unassisted pull-up. =-)
Are there any drive in theaters left? If so I want to come!
Re: horses, check with Flora. She has a horse and boards it in Virginia – so ask her where her horse lives. Stables often have beginner classes you can take. Heck, I’m sure I’m way rusty (I rode when I was growing up), so I might even take a class or two with you!
Zan, if you ever go to Boston, holler. I can tell you where to visit and where to find very difficult hikes a few hours to the north! :) Like the one that almost broke four of my toes.
Chris, there are drive in theatres out there but the closest one to me is in Southwest Denver. Yeh, I know.