Bucket List

Recently, I was cleaning out and back up my old laptop when I noticed a text file titled “bucket list”, from over ten years ago. I excitedly clicked it open, and the list did not disappoint. I’m not too sure how much time I had put into creating said list, but it provided a window into what was important to me towards the end of high school, and what success looked like for me. I’ll be going over each of the 35 items briefly, in the order they were listed:

Happy (partially complete): I’m glad this was important to me when I was a teenager, but I had most likely just read some book or article about how being happy was the most important thing in life. Poseur.

Filthy Rich (incomplete): Haha. Definitely not there yet, and very well might never be, by any definition.

Wife and 2 Kids (incomplete): Still a goal. Still as out there as it was when I was a teenager.

Climb Mount Everest (partially complete): Definitely not a goal anymore after Kilimanjaro. Teenage Chris didn’t specify summit though, perhaps a base camp trek would tick it off the box. Or Annapurna.

Buy Dad a car (incomplete): I’m glad teenage Chris was so filial. Obviously it’s the thought that counts and I never specified what sort of car, but I think that it’s unlikely I will do that, unless of course, I become filthy rich.

Backpack across Europe with J (partially complete): Wow. I don’t think I’ll ever do that anymore, as I’m well past the backpacking age. But given the amount of Europe and the world I’ve covered with J, I think that’s a solid pass.

Treat Parents to Vacation (partially complete): So much filial piety. Was I trying to one-up my future self? No I haven’t done that yet. There’s a real possibility I might someday, given all the trips they’ve taken me on. But we’ve done a good chunk of travelling together since then.

Go down in history (incomplete): Yeah, straight to egomaniac. We’ll see. I also didn’t specify for what reason exactly.

Don’t live in elderly home (incomplete): We’ll seen on that one as well. I think they are pretty convenient though.

Get a high paying job (incomplete): I was a practical kid huh.

Live the high life (partially complete): I’m not sure what this means, but I had already tried weed at that point in time, so I’ll have to chalk it back up to a materialistic desire. Or coke. I do not want to live the “high life” if the “high life” involves a coke habit.

Be fit and deezed up to the point of looking good (partially complete): Realistically, this isn’t happening anymore. When I was backing up my laptop, I also looked at some old photos, and the most fit I had ever been in my life was two to three years ago. I looked good though, 180 pounds and abs. I doubt my ability to put on significant muscle mass past that point. But I definitely have more heft then I did back then. Let’s just hope that doesn’t turn into chub.

Be able to kick ass (Taekwondo) (partially complete): I think I stuck with martial arts longer than I would have expected. Of course, this now also places me squarely in the category of men who overestimate their abilities in a street fight. Not that I’ve ever been in one.

Read Western Canon 90% of any good top ten list (complete): I have no idea what that means, and I’ve long started reading for enjoyment as opposed to filling out a list. But I likely am at the point where I have read 80%-90% of any “top list”.

Know 4 languages (read write and speak) (partially complete): I don’t know if I considered Shanghainese a distinct language from Mandarin at that point in time, but I technically know four if you can’t that. Or if you count enough partial credits from my Italian, Russian, and Spanish. If not either of those, I still think I will likely achieve this goal in my lifetime.

Seville Row (partially complete): I think this means to get a suit made there. I no longer want to get a suit made there. In fact, I ideally would never have to wear a suit in my life again, except for at weddings. I do have a tailor in Shanghai though, so I probably deserve partial credit.

Dragon Tattoo (incomplete): I had wanted a dragon tattoo going up an arm, across my back, and down the other arm. I have of course since given up on that.

Be able to really play piano (incomplete): Funny that this was a dream at one point in time. I don’t think this is an impossibility, but a stretch for sure, and something to think about in old age.

Skydiving (incomplete): Right after I wrote this piece about skydiving. I do not think I want to do that.

Go to a really live party (complete): I’ve had my share. They were really “live”.

Travel to nowhere (complete): Wow, I had the wanderlust bad huh. I think that’s a check.

Find someone cute (complete): Very vague. What was I supposed to do after I found someone cute? Anyways, that’s a check too.

Learn as much as possible (partially complete): Teenage Chris did not know how to set SMART goals. That’s okay though. I’m still learning and think about myself as a lifelong learner.

Teach (partially complete): This is an interesting one. I do like teaching, at work, in my personal life. I wonder how it’ll manifest in the future.

Paris (complete): Not sure what this means, but I’ve been to Paris enough times that I’d have to take a minute to count the exact number, so I hope that qualifies.

New York (Penthouse) (partially complete): I wanted to own a penthouse in New York. Tsk. We’ll see.

Carnival in Brazil (incomplete): Haven’t done it yet, but I feel like the timer is ticking on that one too. I don’t know how appealing that will be for me in ten years.

Tomato thing in Italy (incomplete): Same as carnival in Brazil. Why not add the running of the bulls to the list?

Oktoberfest in Germany (incomplete): See above. Berghain is an updated version of that.

Buy a Vertu (incomplete): I’ve always wanted a sick “dumb” phone. But realistically smartphones are too convenient, and carrying two phones is far too much work. Maybe in old age.

Dog (incomplete): Instructions unclear. Own a dog? Too much work right now. Become a dog? Ruff.

Be a cool uncle (incomplete): Having a bucket list item that depends on one single other person getting pregnant and carrying that pregnancy to term is wild. But I have a great relationship with my sister.

Be a good father (incomplete): I guess I have a little more say in this one, but see above.

Don’t get Alzheimer’s (incomplete): I’ll try my best I guess.

Fun little game, and easy write on a week or month that I didn’t really feel like writing. Maybe I’ll write about my new bucket list for next week. They will be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound.