The Retirement Newsletter: Do you have a bucket list?
Issue Number: -113 — How to manage a bucket list
Welcome
Welcome to newsletter -113 — yes, still counting down the weeks. One-hundred and thirteen weeks to go, and after another tough week at work, I may decide to retire a bit earlier!
This week, I will start looking at my bucket list, how I keep it, what's in it and what I will do with it.
Also, I must thank the kind folks that bought me a cup of tea. Thank you! Most kind and greatly appreciated.
The Future — what are you going to do?
I can split my plans for retirement into two:
Side-hustles — these are things to keep my mind active, to give me something to do, and bring in a little cash. If they make a little extra cash, then great. But, my retirement is not dependent on my side-hustles making money.
The bucket list — yes, everyone has one. Things they want to do once they retire. And, I am not talking about decluttering the house or painting it. I'm talking about fun things. I'm talking about experiences.
Starting a bucket list
I started my bucket list about 5 or 6 years ago when I thought (well, hoped and dreamed) that I would retire in about 3 to 4 years. However, when I sat down and did the maths, there was no way I could afford to retire. But, the bucket list habit had started. Every time I saw something online, in a newspaper, magazine, or even on a wall that I fancied doing when I retired went on the list.
The list habit continued for a few years. Now adding to the list has slowed down, as the list is very long and would take a lifetime to finish. Plus, I found I kept adding the same type of thing — yet another ski trip/road trip/long-distance travel/place to visit. The one common theme in the list is travel and movement, usually over long distances or for extended periods.
Managing your bucket list
Foolishly, I used two different programs to capture my list — Evernote and Pocket.
Evernote and Pocket
For years, I have used Evernote and Pocket to capture information that I need or think I might later need.
Evernote is a note-taking app that has a feature that allows you to capture pages from the web. Plus, there is a handy document scanner companion program for your phone (Scannable) that I use for grabbing articles from papers and magazines, and posters.
Once I have captured the web page or scanned the document into Evernote, I can add extra information to the note.
Evernote is an excellent app for capturing and storing information. It also has a powerful search system, which makes it ideal for keeping a bucket list.
Pocket is a different beast to Evernote.
Pocket is a 'read later' type app that captures web pages. It is an excellent app for capturing and building a personal library of information. I have used Pocket for years and have an extensive library of web pages that runs into the tens of thousands. I have everything in Pocket, from recipes to scientific papers.
The great thing about both apps is they allow you to add tags to the material you have captured. In both apps, I have used the tag ‘bucket list' for my bucket list.
What is on my bucket list?
A quick search of both apps for the 'bucket list' tag reveals around 300 bucket list items — is that a big list? I have no idea. Please let me know.
Of the 300 or so stored items, around 70% seem to be train journeys. Typically, long-distance train journeys across Europe, the US, India, and South-East Asia.
The remaining 30% seem to be a mixture of ski trips, travel tips, and lists of places that I should visit. And with these, I can see that I was thinking 'road trip'; possibly in a camper van.
A collection of 300 articles seems far too many, and they need a prune. And that is what I will be writing about next week. Pruning!
Health
Yep, I am back on the COVID-19 thing…
I finally have my COVID-19 booster booked in for next week.
Anecdotally (always a dangerous thing), I know a few people who have had severe side effects from the boosters. Yet, listening to local gossip is not the way to find out about something. You will never hear about the people who had no side effects with their booster.
According to the CDC and the NHS, the booster side effects are the same as from the first two jabs, that is:
a sore arm from the injection
feeling tired
a headache
feeling achy
feeling or being sick
With no increased prevalence in people receiving the booster. So, there you go.
I had nothing more than a sore arm at the injection site and a slight headache from the first two jabs.
I will let you know how the booster jab goes and whether I get any side effects.
Nostalgia corner
I finally succumbed and subscribed to a music streaming site. At the moment, I am taking a trip down memory lane listening to old songs and albums — a great experience.
Along the way, the app keeps suggesting 'related' music. The app has thrown up some interesting suggestions. Some I know I won't like, and some new ones that I have not previously come across. I am finding some interesting stuff.
Useful links
UK Government Website:
Reflections
One of the things on my bucket list is to do a particular long-distance walking path in the UK. I started it a couple of months ago, and I aim to pick parts off over the coming years.
I did a second leg of the path this week. Twelve miles across some beautiful countryside. A great way to spend a Saturday.
Next week
Next week, I will be looking at my bucket list in the 'post-pandemic era'. I guess COVID-19 is going to impact my retirement plans?
Thanks
Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter, and please don't hesitate to share it with your friends or on social media using the buttons below.
If you would like to say 'thanks' for the newsletter, why not buy me a cup of tea?
Until next time,
Nick
PS, If you have something you would like to contribute to the newsletter — a story, advice, anything — please get in touch.