“Bucket List” vs “Memory Book”

This past fall (Oct. 2020) I took a vacation to visit my 83-yr old mother in Cody, WY. Not far from Jackson Hole and just east of Yellowstone, Cody is a small town made famous by Buffalo Bill.

With 10 days to fill up, I suggested to my mom that we take a road trip. Instead of the usual drive through Yellowstone, I wanted something I’d never seen before. Top on the list was Mt. Rushmore, and I knew Devils Tower was right along the way.

The road trip and time with my mom was memorable. Mt. Rushmore was as amazing as I had imagined, and Devils Tower was equally impressive. I left with the idea to once again watch Spielberg’s 1977 classic, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” Here’s a short video of my Devils Tower hike if you’ve never been: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNIHNLLDuNA&t

Throughout the road trip, I got to thinking about a “Bucket List.” (Another movie I plan to repeat.) Mine is not written but rather in my head, and now it has two more boxes checked off: Mt. Rushmore and Devils Tower.

Rather than a Bucket List of what I still want to do, I found myself thinking of all the wonderful things I’ve already been able to experience: time with family and friends, vacations, competitive cycling, hiking Mayan ruins, living in Germany, etc. I concluded that I already have a wonderful “Memory Book.”

I’m at the age now (53 last September) where it’s easier to visualize being retired. When you’re 25 or 30, it’s hard to put money away in a 401(k) plan and imagine yourself 35 years into the future. But when retirement is within a 15-year time horizon, suddenly it gets real, and you start to dream. For me, the dream includes creating many more memories, and perhaps even writing down a personal Bucket List. But before that day comes, it means continuing to sock away as much as I can into my 401(k) plan so my future dreams can become memories.