25 Things I want to do before I die.....

[MedellinMike]

Everyone,

I want your opinion. I am currently using a "life coach" to try to prepare me for moving out of the country.

Now I know that you guys are probably thinking "what the hell?", but believe me it is very beneficial.

One of the things he asked me to do is to create a list of the 25 things I want to do before I die. He thinks it will keep me focused on goals given that I am giving up a high powered business. He feels without goals, my mind will atrophy and I'll just end up coming back to the USA and work just for mental stimulation. He thinks I'm too much of a Type A personality to slow down to the pace I say I want to.

My problem is that I can only come up with 11 so far. I want your advice. Here are my 11:

1. Make a film and show it to audiences.
2. Write a book and publish it.
3. Go to Carnival in Rio.
4. Take a year off and travel around the world.
5. Live someplace other than the USA (This looks like it will happen in November).
6. Create a successful website.
7. Speak another language fluently.
8. Teach at a University.
9. Create something that makes a fundamental difference in someones life.
10. Live a digital life.
11. Live an ecological life.

The two last ones really refer to living on the earth with as little of a footprint as possible.

Anyway, what are some of yours? I'm particularly looking for things to do rather than accomplishments per se.

Thanks!

[El Capitan]

Hope these help out a bit MM...

12. See the sky-on-fire sunrise of Tierra de Fuego...at least once...*

13. Rent a Toyota 4-wheel drive with a winch, 2 spare tires and 4 - 5 gallon Jerry cans, and go fly fishing in Tierra del Fuego.

14. Go to Machu Picchu at least once in your life, and stand alone and take it all in.

15. Go to, and enjoy an authentic real lamb roast in the countryside of Patagonia, and afterwards lay down in the tall grass, and watch the sky roll by.

16. Learn how to scuba dive.

17. Take on, and participate in a project that helps impoverished kids, such as Safe Passage

[Cap'n Jib]

I did the same thing myself (twice) except, I was too dumb and/or stubborn to seek outside help. Not a bad thing for a man to do….not bad at all. It sure was worth the trip for me.

The one I would put at the very top of the list is by Captain John Yossarian, of Catch-22 fame. “I want to live forever or die in the attempt!”

[GrizGator]

I'm sure more will pop into my head later....but here are a few that I can think of (based on things that I've done).....

* Sail the Grenadines
* Snorkel (or scuba) Blue Hole and the reefs off Caye Caulker in Belize
* ATV through the rain forest of Mt. Arenal in Costa Rica (and watch the lava erupt from the volcano at night)
* Visit Tortaguero in western Costa Rica
* Vist the "scavii" below the Vactican in Rome
* Have sex with a virgin (sorry, had to mix it up)


Griz

[Ciza29]

Mine deal more with travel also.
Here they are in no particular order.


1) Go to Carnival in Rio.
2) Go to a SuperBowl
3) See the Eifel Tower
4) Be rude to the French
5) Be fluent in Spanish
6) Learn to Salsa really well
7) Run with the Bulls
8) Eat sushi in Tokyo off the stomach of a japanese woman who is wearing at most a bikini.
9) Visit Rome, Florence, and Venice
10) See the pyramids.
11) Stand on the great wall of China.
12) Be adopted by Angelina Jolie.
13) Visit Machu Picchu (see you there ELC), and at tierra del fuego)
14) Visit St. Petersburg Russia
15) Write a book (doesn't need to be published)
16) See an opera at the Teatro Colon en Buenos Aires(It was closed when I was there)
17) Visit Angor Wat in Cambodia with my adopted mother Angelina.
18) Vote for an honest politician who cares about America more than his party.
19) See Gone with the Wind (It may be out on video by now)
20) Drive route 66.
21) See Jimmy Buffett in concert

I can't come up with 25 either.

[TheBatmanDude]

I was gonna say Macchu Pichu but got beaten to it; I think hiking around that site would be awesome and a once in a life time thing. It's on my list.

[HonkyTonk]

MM, I wrote a topic about the 10 greatest pleasures in life, but thought it better not to post it.

I'm sure I could come up with 25, but see no need to.

Things I want to do before I die?

1) Make sure my 3 kids are better than I am. Score 1 for Tonk, they are!
2) Make sure my kids kids are better than their parents. I'll wait on that one.
3) Hope this cruel old world is better off for me having been here than if I never was.
4) Lie on my death bed knowing I made a difference.
5) Lie on my death bed knowing my kids knew I did the best I could with what I had, and they were cool with that.
6) Help find the people who ordered the hit that killed Robert Vignola
7) Justice, if there is such a thing, for Austin

Selfish things I'd like to do?

1) Speak fluent Spanish as opposed to getting by just fine.
2) See Canaima Vz.
3) See Angel Falls Vz.
4) Travel completely thru the Darien Gap.
5) Visit Vietnam.
6) Visit Thailand...no, not for mongering.
7) Visit Cuba, Bolivia, Equador, Chile, backroads Mexico.
8) Meet the future Mrs. Tonk no matter where she's from.
9) Ride the death road out of La Paz, Bolivia.
10) Burn the French flag...in France
11) Eat a Spotted Owl taco (Thanks Bueller)
12) Save a liberal's ass with my Kimber .45

Things I've done that I think every man ought to do before he dies?

1) See Jimmy Buffett
2) See the Rolling Stones
3) Experience Machu Picchu. This is really a must see before any man dies. Learn about it, yearn for it, and then experience it. It will truely change your perspective on life and LAm.
4) Fall in love with a foreign latina
5) See Hendrix...sorry, too late for that
6) See Zeppelin...sorry too late for that
7) Entered the dreaded Darian in Panama

What I'd like to do right now if I had a genie?

Give Austin the strength to carry on and have a meaningful life...

[Cap'n Jib]

Tonk,

Your “7) Entered the dreaded Darian in Panama” is indeed an accomplishment. In my own case, I would prefer to stay here on my mountain perch and watch the Darian come to me.


You are a better man that I am, Gunga Dinh!

[HonkyTonk]

Jib, it wasn't that big a deal entering the Darien. I've just wanted to do it and did it, like MM is referring to. I have some pics I could post, but don't want to step on MM's most excellent thread. I really would like to trek thru the Darien Gap. Let me know when your website www.getballs is up and running and I'll invite you along

Seems there's a common theme with some of our members about Machu Picchu. It really is a spiritual experience and a must see.

[Cap'n Jib]

“Jib, it wasn't that big a deal entering the Darien.” - TONK

Maybe not but coming back out again WAS! If we do make the trip, think I will make use of my own business and rent someone else’s balls……I like mine hangin’ where they are.