Reviewing the Bucket List of 2010

One of the great things about blogging is that I write what I'm thinking, I assume other people read it, and those words stick. They are out there in the universe, someone may hold me accountable for those words, and I am more likely to remember those thoughts.

I frequently go back to the words I wrote a year ago -- My Bucket List for 2010. As a refresher:

My goal for 2010 is to experience life and enjoy myself. Here's my list of what I'd like to do in 2010.

1. Sit on the beach and enjoy the sunshine.
2. Go camping for at least a week this summer.
3. Travel to a place I haven't been to with my family.
4. Read a book or two for fun.
5. Buy a bicycle and start a new habit.
6. Get closer to being caught up on my scrapbooking.
7. Make a new friend and strengthen existing relationships

I think that's a pretty full list for a year. I'm looking forward to reporting progress!

 I never reported progress, but I thought about the first item on my bucket list a lot. "Sit on the beach and enjoy the sunshine."

When I made that list, I was thinking of the Illinois State Beach, which was less than 10 miles away from my home. I was thinking of those days that I stopped working at 5 p.m., came down the steps, fed the kids a little something, and took off for the beach. I only did it a few times, but it was really fun. After scrambling through the sand, I'd lay in the sand and feel the exhaustion and stress be pulled from my body. Ultimate relaxation.

I was thinking that I would try to do that more.

Who knew that instead, I would move 700 miles away and get to enjoy an Atlantic Ocean beach for the first time. (see post: Play in the Waves or Seek the Easy Path)

I did not realize that I would live a mile away from a community beach on a river (but brackish water because it mixes with the salt of the Chesapeake Bay). I did not know that I was going to be able to come home from work, walk four blocks, and sit on a green bench and soak up the view of the water.

I made that bucket list and I accomplished several of items on the list in ways I did not expect:

1. Sit on the beach and enjoy the sunshine: Near our new home in Maryland and in Delaware
2. Go camping for at least a week this summer: We camped for two weeks while trying to find a place to live. We were done with camping after that.
3. Travel to a place I haven't been to with my family: Moved to Maryland. While I had driven through when I was 20, it wasn't memorable.
7. Make a new friend and strengthen existing relationships: I was forced to make new friends. During the transition, Mark and I became the best of friends and learned that we could really rely on each other. For awhile, we only had each other. My friends in Illinois became a lifeline as I reached out by phone and Facebook.

I'm glad I wrote that bucket list. It's interesting to see how it worked out and how it didn't. I accomplished four out of seven goals, all four in ways I would have never anticipated.