Tag Archives: Summer

Summer Bucket List 2017

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Every year, my summer bucket list gets shorter and shorter, but this year I’m finally facing the facts: it has to be super short or not done at all. It’s obvious that I don’t do too many things on a summer bucket list.

Although I’ve had my full list since 2003, I’ve only been making summer lists the last three years.

  • 2014: the first year, with a whopping 25 things (I did 7)
  • 2015: again, 25 things (but this time I only did 3)
  • 2016: last year, trying to be realistic with “only” 15 things (I did 4, and learned a 5th was illegal, so I didn’t do that one)

I’m all for ambitious goals, but I also like to balance it with some progress, which usually comes from a solid understanding of reality.

My reality is that I’m not willing to eliminate all other summer activities just to do the things on this list (this is in line with my overall goal of having non-obsessed bucket listing life balance and allowing space for spontaneous activity).

However, I still like the idea of having a smaller subset of my existing list (plus a few special things added just for summer), because it makes summer feel special in a way that’s somewhat challenging to do, now that I’m out of school and don’t have summer break anymore.

So… my much abbreviated (and way more realistic) 2017 Summer Bucket List has all of… 7 things on it!

(This list will be updated throughout the summer using the same key as the full list: bold = completed; linked = link to the post about it; * = in progress.)

Summer Bucket List 2017

  1. Ride a motorcycle
  2. Learn to make paper flowers
  3. Look out the window of a room in the top floor of a downtown skyscraper
  4. Have a picnic
  5. Eat rabbit
  6. Write 3 posts for this blog on previously accomplished bucket list items
  7. Organize my bedroom so it’s a restful space

What do you think of choosing fewer goals in order to get more accomplished? Do you have a summer bucket list? What are some of the things you have on yours?

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Flash Mobs and Fish Festivals

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I’ve wanted to do a flash mob since I learned about it on YouTube a long time ago. I love seeing the seemingly spontaneous dance (or other activity) bring smiles (after initial confusion) to the faces of bystanders. It’s a wonderful combination of performance, surprise, and joy. Also, my Type A personality appreciates how much planning it takes to make it happen.

Participating in a flash mob is pretty straightforward, definitely one of my easiest accomplished goals so far. I use Facebook to search public events for the term “flash mob” and find out about the International Bubble Flash Mob, which happens in Seattle and London on the same day at the same time.

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Summer Bucket List 2016

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For the last two years, I’ve made a summer bucket list with 25 things on it. Both years, I left many items undone. Last year, I counted the days in summer (95 days) and thought that it would be plenty of time to get 25 things done (average of one every 3-4 days), but I realized I’m not willing to eliminate all other summer activities just to do the things on this list by a certain time (too much pressure!). This year, I’m making a more realistic list of 15 items. Since there are 13 weeks (plus 3 days) this summer, I can do an average of just about one each week.

I tried to focus the majority of list items around free or very affordable activities, because I’m saving up for my road trip at the end of the summer. Same with last year, I’ve picked some items from my existing list and added some new items just for the summer, and I don’t include things I already know I’ll do. I’m also using the same key as the full list: bold = completed; linked = link to the post about it; * = in progress; (hidden) = well, you get it.

Summer Bucket List 2016

  1. Volunteer for a non-profit organization
  2. Go geocaching
  3. Look out the window of a room in the top floor of a downtown skyscraper
  4. Release a floating lantern (update – I probably won’t be able to do it, it’s illegal in most states)
  5. (hidden)
  6. Eat rabbit
  7. Participate in a flash mob
  8. Enter a recipe contest
  9. Help a local small business with a project
  10. (hidden)*
  11. Learn to do a magic trick
  12. Have someone buy a piece of artwork of mine
  13. (hidden)
  14. Write a letter to a stranger
  15. Write an article for publication


What’s on your summer bucket list?
Comment and let me know. Let’s do this together!