klutzgrrl, I guess I put "and while I'm dreaming" because all those things are doable IF you have enough money, but I know I'd need to prioritize my list to just two or three things (of the things that cost money) if I didn't reach the first goal of being independently wealthy. And even if I did reach the first goal, being independently wealthy doesn't mean I would be rich enough to just start burning money on travel, custom-built 7,000 ft. bed and breakfasts by the ocean, etc. I was also laughing at myself because my dh DOES want a pirate ship (well, a tall wooden sailing vessel)--complete with his own private bay to dock it in. Ergo, we'd need wealth on the level of Bill Gates to have/do all the things we'd like to do. We're not exactly young, and have just started a serious retirement savings plan, not to mention our current mortgage and my student loan payments. Yes, I do read the Simple Dollar, too!
I've seen the Bucket List movie, and the two main characters visit the pyramids at Giza, the Taj Mahal, the great wall of China, attempt to climb Mt. Everest, go skydiving, stay at luxurious international hotels, etc. All of it made possible by Jack Nicholson's character, who is fabulously wealthy!
I guess the main things I'd regret if I only had a day to live was not focusing more on my music career, and not seeing more of the world. Not that I'm making excuses, but my practical side wins out, as nobody offers retirement plans for sitting around practicing guitar and writing songs all day, and my current job (which is also in a creative field, so it's not like I'm in a soul-sucking job that doesn't feed my creative nature) offers benefits and retirement matching. :) I am working on some of the goals on my list, but in all honesty, I have so many creative things I'd love to try, it's hard for me to buckle down and focus on just a few areas. I would LOVE to make a quilt, I would LOVE to try my hand at painting, I would LOVE to write a book, I would LOVE to try acting. I think I would be pretty good at these things, too, as doing anything creative just thrills my soul. But alas, there is simply not enough time right now (with a full-time job and financial obligations) to explore any of those options as fully as I would like. Even trying to balance my goals with things like keeping the house clean(er) and getting in shape is getting difficult! Maybe when the economy improves and my particular sector of the work force isn't in so much peril, I'll be able to negotiate more free time or a nicer salary which will help me reach my goals faster.
