Just don’t hold your breath waiting, coz it’s gonna be just a little while before I get there ;)
Like most people, I too have a bucket list of things I’d like to do before I shuffle off this mortal coil. I’ve even managed to scrub a few off already… like swimming with dolphins, my hands down favourite happy place memory to visit when things are a bit sucky. However, visiting Alaska, something that has for me been a deep desire for many years now, and a desire that just seems to keep growing with every passing year, was never even put on my bucket list. Why? Well, I like to put things on my bucket list that are at least within a remote realm of possibility and Alaska just didn’t qualify, the cost of such a trip from Australia being prohibitive.
It was simply a pipe dream.
Until last week.
Let me recount a conversation between me and hubby if I may.
Hubby: So… I’ve been thinking…
Me: Really? I thought I smelled smoke…
Hubby: Smartarse. No, really… I’ve been giving this a bit of thought…
Me: OH! Another one of your million dollar ideas babe? Ok, bring it. I’m all ears.
Hubby: Fine. Forget it.
Me: Now now hunneeee…. don’t be like that. You know I loves ya baby.
I give hubby a cuddle and batt my eyelashes at him most winsomely
Me: Now come one. Share.
Hubby softens a little under my adoring gaze
Hubby: Welllllll… I think we need to open up a new bank account. And we need to put $50 a week into it…. to save for you and me to go to Alaska when the boys are old enough to be without us for a couple of weeks.
Me: speechless, mouth hanging open catching flies
Hubby: So how do you feel about that?
Me: finally regaining my powers of speech Are you serious?
Hubby: Deadly.
What happens next is a little x-rated so I won’t share it here but needless to say I showed hubby just exactly how I felt about his suggestion :)
The realisation that we were actually going to, one day, make it to Alaska and that I would see first hand the sights that I currently devour vicariously hit me like the proverbial tonne of bricks. Up until that very moment I don’t think I ever understood just how vital it is that sometimes we take a look at those pipe dreams of ours and break them down to figure out how we can go about making them a reality.
It doesn’t matter that our trip to Alaska is on a 5 to 10 year plan, the most important thing is that we have a plan.
So what about you? What is your pipe dream? You know the first step to making it a reality is saying it out loud… so I’m challenging you to say it here, now, with me and your fellow bubblers to support you. Go on… I dare you :)))
onetonshadow
I’m (hopefully) driving from SF to NY next March. Wanted to do that since I started reading Kerouac and watching Vanishing Point when I was 15. I also want to spend 6 months on the Sea Shepherd but the wife won’t let me on account of me probably coming back dead after I start a sea battle.
Rhana Griffin:
You know when I wrote this, I planned to offer some suggestions on how to put together a plan of action for those people who were brave enough to stand up and claim their pipe dreams.
Your subverting-the-wife-to-spend-time-on-the-Sea-Shepherd showed me the futility of my altruistic intentions.
Yeah… good luck with that ;)
linaji
Oh my goodness you have a wonderful one… I lived there off and on for some years and twas well worth the everything that got me there.. nother story this is your sweet bloggie…heheh
Love reading every bit of this one!
.
One thing I want to do as far as travel more than anything? AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND!!!
WHY? you otta know, after being here on line for almost 4 yers…. the people I wanna meet and Hug?
LONG LIST…!!
.
But you really did give me a wonderful idea to save for this journey.
thank you!! you are so dang inspiring!!!!!!!
Rhana Griffin:
Lina I would love to hear about your Alaskan experience!!
As for Australia, I was lucky enough to spend a few months travelling with hubby and the boys a few years ago and wow! Our little island here is just chock-o-block full of treasures waiting to be experienced. And my aunt lived in NZ years ago, I visited her when I was about 12. New Zealand is just so damn pretty it takes your breath away.
Make it happen Lina. :)))
UncaDeej
It is so good to here that youll be" livin the dream",I will be looking forward to seeing the pics…Deej.
Rhana Griffin:
Not as much as I am looking forward to taking them Deej! :)))
Mel Brackstone...
I’ve always wanted to go to Spain….tis on my list!!!!!!! Alaska IS now a possibility for you, I’m SO pleased for you!!!!!! Mel’s doing the happy dance for you both! :D
Rhana Griffin:
Look out Spain!! I can see you wandering about the countryside Mel, nice and warm there ;)))
Yeah I’m pretty excited…. now everythime I see something Alaska related I don’t have to sigh and think “I wish…” now I can happy sigh and go check my bank balance :))
Jan Timmons
Hey, I’ll donate to that fund. And good writing, too—your dialogue with hubby is a hoot! Great active verbs, Rhana (I used to be a verb sleuth ;)
Rhana Griffin:
If by “donate” you mean offering to show me the magic photography spots… I’ll take that!!
barnsis
How odd that you would bring this up. I could drive to Alaska and have never had the least desire, oh I love to look at the images taken of the icebergs from the cruise ships but maybe the accessibility is just too easy.
At the top of my bucket list is your country. I have had a deep desire to come to Australia and see everything. I even at one time looked into coming there as an exchange teacher for a couple of years.
Now I am approaching 69 years of age, the ole body can not do what it once could and Australia is still at the top of my bucket list even though I know that it is probably beyond reality unless we get lucky and win some lottery.
It is even more of a deep desire now that I feel like I know so many different people all over the continent. I feel like if you could come there I could actually meet face to face so many people that I feel I have grown to know so well.
I guess it will never happen but I still dream.
Rhana Griffin:
I really don’t find the fact that you live so close and yet have never wanted to visit that odd at all :) Since moving to my adopted home state of Tasmania, I have been astonished by the amount of people who have been born and bred here that haven’t visited half the places my family and I have gone. I swore when we first moved here that I would never take it for granted.
I read something yesterday written by a fellow bubbler and he said “As long as the heart beats – have faith” Have faith that one day you will realise your dream :)
Vickie Emms
First of all Rhana, let me say your pipe dream is WORTH WAITING FOR. Save for Alaska, you will not be disappointed. I was there in 2009 and I’m (we) are going back next summer. We are very excited about our new Honda CR-V, tending, air beds and taking the dog and just moving slower this time. It will take a good time to see it all, and we plan on doing it this time.
My pipe dream is to visit Europe and see many countries. Now I nor my husband are no spring chickens anymore and with bad ankles, I am not sure I can say that will happen. But as you say, I can dream can’t I? I also have a need to see my Aunt in Scotland, my birthland. She is onward of 93 years of age and we think Auntie will always be there, but I do know she won’t always be there. So I am not sure, but I hope to see her in between Alaska and east coast of Canada and Maine.
Rhana Griffin:
Wow Vickie! Sounds like you have got it all going on! All the very best to you, hubby and your furbaby for an exciting, adventure filled time in Alaska :)
Lisa Jewell
Oh wow Bellababe, so very exciting and as you say, doable. You know how I thought I’d end up in Italy, well family has changed that, slightly. I will spend many months there, in a few years. I’ve always had a list in my head of countries I want to experience. Most have been in Europe, with America down the list. My list has reshuffled and I plan on going to America next year. I studied the American civil war at Uni so of course I want to go to the South. San Fran to see the amazing architecture, and a certain gem. New York because it is a must and the place I’ve dreamt of going since I was a girl. Nantucket.
I will however go to the Apple Isle ;) before this OS adventure.
xxx
Rhana Griffin:
You know… I really should scoff in disbelief at you mentioning visiting my island before you go on your big adventure but then I….
hang on.
Wait.
Sod it.
I am going to scoff in disbelief… I’ve heard it that many times… LOL!
You know I loves ya hunny xxxx
Mel Brackstone...
I’m gonna get close….mexico next month – Ole! heh
Rhana Griffin:
OLE!! Now that should be an adventure! How long you going for?
Lisa Jewell
I expected many scoffs
you know I love you xxx
Rhana Griffin:
I think I may have even snorted a little as I was scoffing…. ;)
Mel Brackstone...
diez días, con un montón de fotos y la buena comida:)
joak
joak- ive ben thinkin
mrs joak- well theres a first time for everythin
joak
naw really i huvcome on then oot wi itmrs joak
joak- we could put 50 quid a week awa an day somethinye really want tae dae
mrs joak- stop lookin at me like that an keep yer hands tae yersel
joak- whit would ye dae wi it
Mrs joak- buy you a one way ticket tae mars
joak- och yer to kind
whit happened next wis x rated anaw—ive still got the bruises
Chatta
Hey Rhana that is awesome – up until a few years ago I didn’t believe in pipe dreams until I made friends with an awesome girl who lives in NSW through FB and photography. She has helped me come out of my shell so much in the last 2 years and in 22 days I get to meet her and her family and spend 12 days with her taking pictures of the Illawarra area. Plus a couple of days in Sydney with her & her hubby and my wife. Also catch up with another photography mate who has been down here twice and they know each other and done exhibitions together – 3 of us out taking pics.
I have also dreamed of visiting Canada for photography and New Zealand for fly fishing – one day ill get to both – I now believe it will happen :-)
Cheers Brett
Jan Timmons
I reckon I could just donate by buying your art. (I learned “I reckon” from this site ;)
Rhana, just past the dotted line on the map lies all of Canada with the same majestic mountains and big moose and better politics, I think, plus all of the Canadian and Alaskan parts of the Inside Passage up the Pacific Coast. Our next big trip might to Banff and Lake Louise; my spouse hasn’t even seen much of British Columbia. And, of course, after seeing all the beauty on RB and the humor/humour, we have to see your island, the big Oz, and NZ. Perhaps Antarctica. And back to Europe, of course. And see my sib’s haunts in Africa…
But for now…I plan to listen to the wind in the trees and breathe.
Elaine Manley
cya up there .. I want to go there also ! lol
PJ Ryan
wooohooo !! how fabulous is this. well done lovely lady. you know, i’ve never been much of a planner in my life but i’ve started to consider 5 year plans as well lately. it all swings around so quickly but feels so far away. stick with it, once the kitty starts filling up you’ll be diving into it with more $$$ for better times. great news x