My Bucket (List) is Overflowing.

I think the purpose of a bucket list is to do the things you have always wanted to do, before you are too old to do them.

I’ve never wanted to do any of the things on the list that you posted, so, unless you have, there is no reason for us to feel inadequate.

Pleased that Spring is on the way for you, my DH is in Perth at the moment and I’ve just told him that it was 4 degrees here in the U.K., this morning, he groaned, as it’s been cold over there for 2 weeks, and he sat out in the sun for the first time today! By the time he arrives home next week we will be having frosts......

Rufus not only have I never done any of those things, I actually feel no desire to do them. If I'd ever been remotely interested in all these hair-raising risky adventures I would probably have started in my youth and continued throughout my life, but now? Why? Why would I get to my age and suddenly cultivate a dare-devil gene that has been absent all my life? .
So you go on sitting out in the garden - I would join you, but it's only about 10 deg here .

You should perhaps just look at those programmes as showing examples of older folks who haven't given up on themselves and are doing their own "thing". We can all do our own thing but only the spectacular "things" make good TV. The point is that everyone should enjoy life in their own way.

I haven't done any of those things, nor do I, like most people so far on this thread, have any desire to do so. I enjoy such adventures vicariously through my kids, and let them break their legs in my place!

I have never had a bucket list and never will. It is like all those people who have 5 and 10 year plans for their careers, they are so blinkered and obsessed with ticking off everything on their tick list, they miss all the other opportunities in life that keep popping up and are much more fulfilling and continuously enjoyable than any extreme experience.

This year my 'big' Experience has been celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary by hiring a big house close to the town centre of a small historic town and inviting all my nearest and dearest. For a week, each day people broke into different, groups. that changed from day to day to visit different attractions, in the evening we had a buffet supper and then relaxed together and shared our day. Everything worked perfectly, no rows, no arguments. It was an unspeakably wonderful experience.

Then serendipity, I won ferry tickets to Europe in a GN competition. We went to north Spain and decided to visit some caves, which as well as the most gloriously shaped stalagmites and stalagtites, had cave art. , 35,000 years ago people, like us had visited these caves and had put their hands against the cave walls and painted round them, hands of various sizes, mainly left hands, but a few of them right hands. My reactions to seeing those hand shapes of people who lived so long ago was indescribable.

How pathetic bungee jumping, and paragliding and all these 'Oh look at me' experiences seem in comparison.

'There's a hole in my bucket' that I filled up by getting 3 more hens - something I've wanted to do for years and for one excuse reason or other, never got round to doing. I don't have/want a bucket list, I'm happier with spontaneity,
no matter how small (bungee jumping wouldn't come into it). Bring on the goats

I've never understood bucket lists either - I can't think of anything I have always wanted to do and not so far done it!

How nice your weather is warming up Rufus - I see pictures of my little grandsons at nursery in NZ several times a week and their wellies and thick coats are gradually being removed as the spring is starting to kick in. Just enjoy sitting out and contemplating your navel

I have never had a bucket list I will never have a bucket list I have no expectations ......but I have done white water rafting in NZ at the grand age of 72 and hated every minute if it The best bit was getting out the boat/raft when it was all over I had no wish to go white water rafting but my son bought us all tickets , and everyone had a good laugh at my expense when the photos came out as I look like a little tortoise with my head tucked so far down into my life jacket so I couldn’t see anything I looked as if I d got no neck at all My grandkids thought it was wonderful when teo of them flew out the boat coming down the very high rapids I can’t tell you how much I hated it and it didn’t help when they chanted a Maori pray for a safe journey at the start of the trip
No, definitely no desire to do anything at all like that ever ever again

Much cheered by this thread!
Always assumed I was boringly unadventurous in not wanting to join the 'throw yourself out of a functioning plane/jump off a cliff' brigade.
Nice to read that I am not alone.
Do join me under the "see what life brings" banner, Rufus

Perhaps it's the term "bucket list" we don't like ?

I have one or two more things I'd like to experience while I still have good health and wealth.

I think some of these extreme activities are sometimes done by folk who like the attention it attracts.Not because it was something they couldn't possibly die without experiencing.

I think you could be right cavewoman
There seem to be a lot of old /elderly dare devils about.
There also seems to be a lot of retired people who hardly stop for breath! Endless clubs/ commitments that don’t leave time to stand and stare for five minutes.
Good to have things to do, but you can overdo things.

My DH, a retired pilot, has always said only a fool jumps out of a fully functioning aircraft, but when SIL3 did it for our local hospice (he was absolutely terrified!) we all went to watch!

The term 'bucket' list doesn't bother me. It just sounds so desperately of people who are trying to prove how young they really are, even though their passport shows they aren't.

I am not suggesting sinking into fleece and slippers passivity when you retire, although time for that is nice, but getting about, being interested in the world and active in it, is far more likely to keep you youthful and happy, than constantly hunting the next evanescent thrill.

I, like many on this forum, have no bucket list and no desire to engage in life threatening, thrill seeking experiences. I was persuaded by my daughters when in my 50s to do an underwater dive in Greece, which I hated as I am not good in the water, and in my 60s to go dune bashing in Dubai, which was terrifying! I am now in my 70s and quite content to go for long walks or visit beautiful, interesting places, that is quite sufficient.

I don’t have one, there are just few things I would do like to do , be at my youngest grandchild’s graduation in three years time, and go back to New Quay in Cardiganshire one more time. Is a wish list bucket list ?

Willow500; I certainly will ! Navel-gazing is not too strenuous and being able to stretch out on a sunlounger in the peace and tranquility of the back garden, listening to the maggies warbling away at me with the sunshine cheering me up; well! Who needs a bucket list?
Only one problem; Shiraz appears to have sedative powers so it doesn't pay to nod off or otherwise there's a rude awakening when it cascades into your lap.
Best to empty the glass first.!

At last I have found my people!
I am retired and genuinely have come to appreciate the small pleasures in life. Reading, enjoying morning coffee with my husband, spending time with my grandchildren and walking in the surrounding countryside etc. For a couple of years I felt under pressure to do exciting activities, but now I only do what I want. But it has taken a while to get to this point!

Rufus2, I wish I had read your words of wisdom several years ago. ? I wouldn’t have wasted time feeling so guilty about my simple pleasures.