Years ago while watching a sunset on a Maui beach, I turned to a friend and said "I'm really glad I saw this before I die" to which she replied "well, scratch it off your list then." That's when I became acquainted with the fact that some people make a list of things they wish to do before they die in order to be assured of experiencing everything they want out of life before death comes a calling.
I decided to make my own list in a little notebook I found, and came to this realization: it would be pretty depressing to lay on my deathbed clutching a list that still has a bunch of items left unchecked.
I don't need that kind of failure looming over me, so I figured out an entirely new approach: Don't add anything to the list until you've already done it. Brilliant! That way, no matter when you check out, the list of things to do is certain to be complete and you can die a success!
So, here it is... a transcription of my list of things I want to do before I die (all of them done, of course) in no particular order. A few of the more personal and, ahem, "questionable" items have been removed to prevent offense and embarrassment (yours, not mine)...
NOTE: I moved my list to a separate page so I could find it easier when it needed updating. You can visit my List of Things To Do Before I Die (That I've Already Done) right here.
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Werll come on down to San Marcos and we can take care of #15 and #33. Only 10 mins away you can jump out of a plane, and 30 mins away is San Antonio!
Ah, but I’ve already taken care of them, that’s the beauty of my list! Though, I would love to visit San Antonio and Austin again… love those cities. 🙂
I am right in the middle!
I should get a map… you must be near New Braunfels then? And the only reason I know that is because of Schlitterbahn (hope I spelled that right!). I think that’s about all I remember about my drive from Austin to San Antonio (but you kind of have to forgive me since I had started in Dallas!).
I hate that drive to Dallas! 30 mins from Austin, 30 from San Antonio, and 15 from New Braunfels. If you ever do make it down here, a friend’s husband is the GM at the Hard Rock in Austin!
On a side note, I have family that just moved to Camas WA, how far is that from you?
Austin has a great Hard Rock in a very nice old building. Hmmm. There is the city of Camas, which is down south on the Columbia on the way to Portland. And I believe there is a town of Camas Creek north of Spokane somewhere… both are probably around 4 hours from where I live.
Yep they are far down, well maybe we will actually meet face to face one day. I doubt it will be face to face, maybe my face your chest, or belt, after all I am only 5 ft.
i will take care of 20
Visit beautiful York Minster then wander through Old Town in York, England.
As i live in York and why not visit chester as its very much the same as York
What a fantastic post. Makes me want to do more with my life.
I’ve got a list like this going as well, I loved reading yours. It’s very inspiring and gave me a few ideas :). Thank you!
Dude, this is amazing! You’ve really lived-I’m so freakin’ jealous. I’m gonna start my own list (though I do the San Antonio/Austin stuff all the time as I live in Houston).
Hi Dave,
You have been to a lot of places 🙂
How about a visit to India?
Cheers,
Dheeraj
Oh how I would LOVE to visit India!
I am hopeful that one day I will be able to visit… my friend went last year, and returned with many wonderful photographs of some amazing places!
🙂
I love your list! And I’m feeling all tingly because I can also check many of those things off my list too. With my 30th birthday just over the horizon, I’m trying to put together a list of things to have done by then. Walking the Great Wall, visiting the pyramids, Hogmanay in Edinburgh, scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef, bungee jumping, elephant trekking etc etc etc… I’ve got a lot I can already put on there. But now I’m trying to fill it in with some more silly, ridiculous items. Dye my hair a crazy colour or stuff like that. Any suggestions at all (big or small) would be welcome! Thanks
Ok, first of all, in your FAQs I see “Central Washington” and, jeepers! I’m from Wenatchee.
Now on to this awesome list. I’ve done #s 1, 3, 4, 17, 20, 23, 28, 29, 35, 43, (ok, not really 43), 45, 46, 47, 49, 52, 53, 56, 57, and 62. This brought back the best memories. I love this!
Come to Australia!
2, 7, 12, 16, 18, 19, 25, 34, 38, 43, 46, 56, 67 …all are finished on my list. As for 31, I will never be able to=( and 51, well, um… I’m a chick, but perhaps I could become a stripper and have someone put a $100 bill in my g-string?
Now I think I should write my own list. Perhaps you would like to compare? =)
dave,
this was spectacular. terrific idea.
so much to do, so little time.
That’s some list. I’ve done 8 of your things and a few more that are close enough. Considering how exotic your items are I don’t feel too shabby about that.
Wohoo, this was inspirational! Quite often I sit down and feel like nothing´s ever happen. I´m gonna copy this and whenever I feel moody I´ll look at my list of things I´ve done before I die 🙂
On Ottawa. Really? (I never consider it as a destination. Probably I good thing I don’t work for our dept. of Tourism.)
Glad I got to do #31. I’d add acting like a tourist at the bottom and looking up…
Cool, up to #72..
Very awesome
But
Did you do all those things by yourself?
Because some of them are things I would want to do with a companion, so did you, do them or some of them with a companion?
Oh sure… some of these I was with friends, family, girlfriend, or whatever. But I don’t think that any of the things on this list would be diminished if I was alone… and I was for some of them.
Hi Dave,
You’re very inspiring. How about adding one to the list?
Visit Treriksröset which is the point where the borders of Sweden, Norway and Finland meet.
I heard and saw that it’s an amazing sight to see during winter.
That’s one of the places I would like to go before I die. 🙂
WOW! some of these i havent even heard about!
Great list….I’m gonna print it out!
Thanks
WOW! some of these i havent even heard about!
Great list….I’m gonna print it out!
Thanks
Awww!! #51 actually happened to me when I was a stripper.
The guy was disheveled, had a scraggly beard, and was sitting by himself. It looked like $100 was all he had to his name, so when I got my tip after stage dancing and realized it was a hundred dollar bill and not a one, I thought, “oh my god, this guy just accidentally gave me all his money!”
I didn’t get more than three steps away before I turned back and said, “Hi! Thanks for your tip, but I think you gave me too much. Do you realize you gave me a hundred dollar bill????!!” (yes, I’m a stripper with a conscience) He said, “yes, you were amazing and you deserve it.” My jaw dropped… I didn’t think I was any more special than the other girls that night…
Of course, I was extremely flattered and had a grin from ear to ear, but I felt like I didn’t deserve it since I didn’t really ‘work’ for it. I told him I’d love to give him a few lap dances in exchange for the generous tip 🙂 Believe it or not, he said no!
Lesson: you can’t judge how generous a tipper the customer can be by the way he looks. Luckily I learned this lesson early in my career 🙂
Is there any more awesome way to start out a comment than …when I was a stripper…?
This “exotic dancer” totally deserved her $100. She was clearly having fun every time she was on, and it was contagious. It was impossible not to have a good time when she was performing. That’s not entirely uncommon at a club, but she took it to an entirely new level.
I actually did number 67…The waffle was amazing and I really could have died then….it was sooo romantic! It is a must for anyone who wants to enjoy a visual as well as a warm fuzzy feeling of the waffle on a cold day
1. Great minds think alike. (Or, more likely, not).
2. You have had a much more interesting life than me. You win.