{"id":15493,"date":"2022-01-12T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-12T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hoohaa.com\/?p=15493"},"modified":"2022-01-12T14:15:56","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T18:15:56","slug":"20-days-of-chill-2022-at-the-top-of-the-bucket-day-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoohaa.com\/?p=15493","title":{"rendered":"20 Days of Chill 2022: At the top of the bucket (Day 8)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Let\u2019s go to the top of the bucket with one thing: Bucket lists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always thought these were kind of corny. But as I started to age, I realized bucket lists were a huge part of life. They can be very useful when it comes to having goals, or dreams, or anything in between. Maybe it\u2019s a big trip or two. Maybe it\u2019s a fancy car. Maybe it\u2019s something totally different. But having this bucket list can help one focus on an end goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, the reality is, unless we all have disposable income to empty the bucket, most of us will never cross everything off our bucket lists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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That doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t try. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My list changes every so often. And, honestly, a lot of mine covers travel goals. There\u2019s so much to see in this world that I\u2019d really love to get out and travel more. At the same time, I like being home. Add Harper to that mix, and it makes it a bit harder for me to accomplish some of my travel dreams. Being Harper isn\u2019t a lap dog, if she flew, she\u2019d have to go cargo. Not for nothing, but I\u2019m not stuffing my dog into a crate and letting them load her with the cargo. No way. No how. Not. Going. To. Happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, that means I have two things at the top of my bucket list. My number one hasn\u2019t changed for several years \u2013 going to Iceland. I\u2019ve dreamed of this place for years and had plans to do it in September of 2020. And, well, you know what stopped that. It\u2019s still on my radar, and hopefully will be done in the next few years. Harper will have to skip that trip with me, however, as I just don\u2019t see how I\u2019d be able to bring her with me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, if we go back to Monday\u2019s post and show me da money, well \u2026 that could change. But, in light of that, Iceland will likely be me and maybe a friend or two who wants to travel to Iceland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other item at the top of the list is based on traveling with Harper. This is something I\u2019ve thought a lot about as she continues to get older. At eight months, she\u2019s becoming quite the explorer. She loves being outside and, for the most part, she likes to walk. I do not do off-leash walking, so she\u2019s getting better on the leash. But as I\u2019ve taken some geocaching adventures with her, I can see she really loves seeing new places. The smells and sights and just the different terrain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how can I work on that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My idea of roughing it, in the past, is a budget hotel. I am not one to tent camp and such, so I always tend to get hotels when I travel. And usually, it\u2019s something like a Marriott. I\u2019m not a fan of dogs in hotels, though. While I know there are times that won\u2019t be avoidable, I\u2019m going to be one who tries to find different ways around it. I hate the idea of needing to crate her in a hotel room if I go out to dinner etc. But it would be necessary as I wouldn\u2019t want to leave temptation out there, even as she ages and can be trusted more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The big question is: Where would I want to travel with Harper?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While \u201cbark in the park\u201d events are of interest as it combined Harper with my love of baseball, the odds are if I do those, it will be in places that are somewhat close to me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That leaves parks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve long wanted to explore not only New York State\u2019s vast amount of parks, but to go to National Parks. There are so many amazing ones and I\u2019ve often seen people out hiking with their dogs at said parks. Therefore, I\u2019d love to bring Harper along. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To accomplish this, I\u2019m starting to set my sights on something like a teardrop camper. I know what I want my next vehicle to be \u2013 likely a small to mid-size SUV \u2013 so it could be something to pull said trailer. It allows me to have a little more comfort while \u201ccamping\u201d and gives Harper and I a place to be warm, or even cool down, when traveling. Some of them are 5-6 feet tall, allowing me to be able to stand. And some have the addition of things like a full bed, television, AC, and cooking areas. The price range is obviously quite large, so I\u2019d have to think highly about the simplicity of use and what I need to do to get used to having something like this. Storage of it in the offseason as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This trailer, as well as the traveling with Harper, has likely become No. 1 on my bucket list. The top of the bucket, you could say. This might be a couple of years away, but it\u2019s something I\u2019m going to try and figure a way to do \u2026 and make it so she and I have ways to travel and see the country. And maybe some of Canada as well, considering how nice many of the parks in that country are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First things first, though. She needs to get better at traveling (she sometimes still throws up), and we need to get out of Covid. Then \u2026 bring it on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s at the top of your bucket list?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This post is part of the 2022 20 Days of Chill Writing Challenge hosted by A \u2018lil HooHaa. Please check out the links (<\/em>intro<\/em><\/a> I<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>themes<\/em><\/a>) if you\u2019d like to see the setup and  themes! You don\u2019t have to do every theme if you don\u2019t want to! And for those participating, take a moment and check out the other participants!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Link up: <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n