30 before 30 list REVISITED

The other day I read a really good blog post about bucket lists and how if they are really to serve the purpose of helping guide your life towards goals they should be flexible, changing over time. (Read it here). It got me thinking. I first wrote my 30 before 30 list a little over a year ago and figure it's about time to re-evaluate the things I decided I wanted to do before the big 3-0 in 2016. So far I have accomplished 12 things with a 13th in the works for next January (a trip to Turkey we have already booked). Priorities change, life throws you curve balls and some things just don't seem as important as before. That being said, I have decided to make some alterations to my original list. The things that I have completed are crossed off. Some things I have left the same, some I have explained a bit more, some will change thus eliminating others. Here goes the new and improved 30 before 30 list:

 1. Go on another cruise. We are still checking into the possibilities of another cruise, with hopes of finding an inexpensive one to the Canary Islands.
2. Learn to cook Indian food.
3. Start a family (read: have a baby). Who would have thought that this would be so difficult? I would say that this is one of our highest priorities at the moment which means putting aside some of our other goals (like traveling), something I am completely okay with. Many people know but I have been diagnosed with PCOS which makes pregnancy complicated but not impossible. Wish us luck as we go through what could be a long, expensive process.
4. Become my own boss. Find a job in which I am happy with what I do, feel accomplished and appreciated. (Change number 1)
5. Visit Morocco.
6. Spend Christmas in Michigan.
7. Walk at least a part of the Camino de Santiago.
8. Drive comfortably here in Spain.
9. Go to (and enjoy) a soccer game.
10. Write a book. Find a list of books every person should read, and read them. (Change number 2)
11. Visit Ireland. This is proving much more difficult and expensive then I had originally thought. I had dreams of visiting Dublin but flights are crazy so in the future this might change to another destination.
12. Cook a Thanksgiving dinner solo.
13. Keep a plant alive for more than a few months.
14. Go 6 months without buying anything new. Save up and buy a new car. (Change number 3)
15. See the new Pope. I think this Pope is exactly what the Catholic church needed. I would still love to go to Rome again (probably my favorite city) and see him.
16. Learn to braid my own hair. Grow my hair long enough to cut it and donate it to Locks of Love in my niece's name. (Change number 4)
17. Throw a successful surprise party for someone (so that they have no idea). Throw a fabulous baby shower for one of my good friends here in Spain who recently found out she is pregnant after struggling. (Change number 5)
18. Go to a concert.
19. Grow my blog.
20. Learn how to take a good photo. Learn how to cook some Spanish dishes and post about them here on the blog at the request of some readers. (Change number 6)
21. Restart my Italian classes.
22. Visit Gibraltar.
23. Have my family here to visit.
24. Get an English teaching certificate.
25. Take a Spanish wine tasting course.
26. Finish our apartment and all its little nitpicky projects. Last weekend we FINALLY got our bedroom all wrapped up, hanging pictures and putting together a much-needed chair. There will be a post about it soon.
27. See more of Turkey. Jose and I have just recently booked a trip to Istanbul for next year so this will eventually be crossed off of my list. I am excited to see such a historical place. Plus we got a pretty good deal!
28. Create and contribute to some kind of retirement plan. Create saving goals and stick to them. (Change number 7)
29. Be blonde.
30. Learn how to drive a scooter

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

La mesa camilla

Image
The mesa camilla is a very Spanish invention (in fact I believe it to be a very southernly Spanish invention). It consists of a table, a heater and a heavy, long tablecloth-like fabric that drapes over the sides. The idea is that you put the heater under the table and when you sit down you put the fabric over you like a blanket. The truth is that it does keep you quite warm. The downside is that once you get up and move, you lose the heat. Since the houses and apartments here in the south of Spain are not created for the cold (no central heating) a mesa camilla can be found almost every where.  We didn't have one last year and survived with blankets, space heaters and flannel pajamas throughout the winter. This year Jose decided we needed to get a mesa camilla. I fought the good fight (since often times they look very similar to the option in the picture above) but we ended up ordering one not too long ago.  Typically the mesa camilla is made of wood and can be stored throu
Read more

Simple Spanish recipe: Chipirones a la plancha

Image
Ok so I know this picture is a bit blurry and I apologize but it is the final result of my having cooked chipirones a la plancha for the first time. Let me explain, chipirones are small squid and a la plancha means grilled. They are served in an olive oil, parsley and garlic sauce. At first I wasn't sold on the idea of this recipe but believe me, it is pretty awesome and super healthy. It is a really typical tapa that you can order at almost any bar here in the south of Spain. Chipirones a la plancha is usually served on a bed of lettuce or with a small side salad. Yum! Here's the how: First you need the chipirones (small squid that come with the heads and tentacles attached). I can buy them at my local grocery store in the fresh seafood section. I bought a package of 400 grams though the good thing about this recipe is that you can make as much or as little as you like. Allow me to also explain that here in Spain people tend to eat a lot more fish and seafood than
Read more

Spanish names

Image
Maaaaaaaria, I just met a girl named Maria Hopefully you just read that and sang the song from West Side Story in your head. Let's just say that from what I have experienced here in Spain, people really, really like this name. In fact, there are times when it seems like EVERY woman or girl is named Maria (or Maria de/l something) and though they might go by the second part of their name, their given one is still Maria. People definitely opt for traditional names here, unlike the US where names go through trends.  Recently a friend on Facebook posted a link which contained a GIF  (originally from The Atlantic)  showing the different female names that had been popular in the US since 1960. It is interesting to see how a name like Jennifer would be popular in one region and then would sweep the nation. Such a map would not be as cool here in Spain since not a whole lot would change. Maria. Maria del Carmen. Miriam. Marian. Mirian. Variations on a theme. Religious names I
Read more