A whirlwind adventure: 50 for 50
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On February 8, 2018, I turned 49. Many people thought I was turning 50 and asked how I planned to celebrate. I knew a party would be a given, but as I thought about it, I realized I wanted something more. Looking at the 40 to 50 years to come if I'm lucky, I want to make sure I will continue living with gusto and not complacency.
A month before, I learned that I wasn't selected to be The New York Times' reporter to travel to 52 places in 2018. This was not a huge shock — they received 13,000 applications! — but the rejection stung. I had wanted this role and knew I would have kicked some serious ass doing it. I wasn't interested in taking a year off to mimic it, but it did inspire me to create my own list: 50 places I've never visited that I will travel to in my 49th and 50th years.
By taking on this commitment I'm saying "yes" again to living big and following my heart and a big "no" to multiple weekends laying on my couch and binging on Netflix. Coming up with my list was surprisingly challenging as I want it be realistic in terms of time and finances and also be sure it will force me to stay on my toes to make it happen.
So here's my list. I plan to meet up with friends along the way — let me know where I'll be meeting you!
Here's to a life well lived now and well into the future.
Skydive somewhere! (eeek!!!) - chickened out and changed to Angkor Wat, Cambodia January 2020!
Morocco, Marrakesh - with Didi and Kim October 2018
Morocco, Erg Chebbi dunes - with Didi and Kim October 2018
Morocco, Chefchaouen - with Didi and Kim September 2018
Morocco, Fez - with Didi and Kim October 2018
Iceland, Reykjavik - did go with Shannon February 2018 but decided didn’t rank highly enough for this list so changed to Luwang Prabang, Laos January 2020!
Iceland, Blue Lagoon - with Shannon February 2018
Iceland, ice cave tour - amazing! with Shannon February 2018
Iceland, Northern Lights - alas, they didn’t appear, but we snorkled at Silfra between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates - February 2018
Finland, Helsinki - changed to Superbloom 2019 - March 2019
Finland, Loyly sauna - changed to Havana, Cuba! - December 2018
Estonia, Tallinn - seeming ambitious. Went with Vinales, Cuba instead - December 2018
Russia, St Petersburg, Hermitage - changed to Cinque Terre, Italy - May 2019
Russia, St Petersburg, Peterhof or Catherine's Palace - changed to Siena, Italy - May 2019
Russia, Moscow, Red Square - changed it to Tuscany farmhouse near Pienza, Italy - May 2019
Russia, Moscow, the Kremlin - changed it to Taormino, Sicily - May 2019
Kauai, kayak the Na Pali coast - changed to a boat ride instead with Kim July 2018
Kauai, Waimea Canyon - with Kim July 2018
Kauai, birding at Kilauea National Wildlife Refuge - boring so changed to Secret Beach with Kim July 2018
Boston, Massachusetts, Freedom Trail - with Mom September 2019
Boston, Massachusetts, Harborwalk - kind of forgot to do this when in Boston so changed to Bukit Lawang, Indonesia to see orangutans January 2020
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts - with Mom September 2019
Provincetown, Massachusetts - with Mom September 2019
Horseshoe Bend, near Page, Arizona - with Dad, Glenn, and Melinda September 2019
Antelope Canyon, Arizona - with Dad, Glenn, and Melinda September 2019
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona - condor release site with Dad, Glenn, and Melinda September 2019
North Rim of Grand Canyon, Arizona - with Dad, Glenn, and Melinda September 2019
Sedona, Arizona - with Dad September 2019
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico - December 2019
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - December 2019
Olympic National Park, Washington - with Aunt Wendy July 2019
Canada, Vancouver Island, Tofino - not easy to get to! Went with Trinidad, Cuba instead December 2018
Portland, Oregon, WDS stage as attendee story! - June 2018 but as bollywood dancer thanks to Meredith and Prashant!
Lassen National Park, California - changed it to Anza-Borrego National Park (and return visit to Joshua Tree with Yvonne) March 2019 but later changed again to Halong Bay, Vietnam for New Years 2020 because Anza-Borrego didn’t impress me so much :)
Pinnacles National Park, California - March 2018
Celebrate my dad's 80th somewhere great! - Glacier Bay with whole family June 2019
Sierra Hot Springs, Sierraville, California - looked skanky so switched to the Alhambra in Grenada, Spain with Tina and Julio October 2018
Farallon Islands, California - with ETC crew September 2018
Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur, California - changed to the Sensorio lights installation in Paso Robles with Sara Terrien December 2019
Esalen Insitute workshop, Big Sur, California - June 2018
Alamere Falls, Point Reyes National Seashore, California - changed to Ringing Rocks with Cathy and Robbeye near Whitehall, Montana October 2019
Pie Ranch for a barn dance, Pescadero, California - changed to Walla Walla wine tasting (plus visit to boring Coeur d’Alene) October 2019
San Francisco tiki bar bar crawl - September 2018 with tiki fans Greg and Jeff :)
Bike the Bay Bridge - changed to Oregon coast drive November 2019
UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens - first adventure right near home in March 2018
On location TBD to tape my 3rd Amazing Race application! Who’s coming with me? - who am I kidding? too much travel this year! Switched to Seville, Spain with Tina and Julio October 2018
An alternative medicinal center - Davis with Jeff and a friend November 2019
Go-with-the-flow location - Edna Valley and Paso Robles wine tasting with Rick, George, and Sowmya March 2018
Surprise-the-hell-out-of-me place - helicopter ride in Kauai July 2018
Last-chance-for-50-for-50!!! - Langkawi, Malaysia January 2020 — one final new country (up to 68 now and all seven continents) for my final 50for50 adventure!!!