It’s only in this last year I became aware of the fact that there are individuals who don’t have a “bucket list” and don’t plan on making one. I found this really surprising. I had two patients with cancer and suggested the idea to each of them, but neither did it. Despite my being a therapist for 20 years and knowing so much about human behavior, I still get shocked at times.
Anyway, one of the items on my bucket list is to experience all 50 states before I die, and I got ten left if you go by my definition of what “visiting” a state means. I decided that a layover at an aiport or simply driving through is not enough; you need to stop for a meal or a cocktail for it to count—i.e., an opportunity to actually interat with locals. My goal is to knock eight off the list this summer (Alaska and Kansas will have to wait). Last night I spent hours figuring out my route, and I’m excited about my tenative plan:
May 3-6 - Metropolis, IL - 3 nights
May 6-12 - Shipshewana, IN - 6 nights (5 hour drive from Metropolis)
May 12-18 - McGregor, IA - 6 nights (5 hours 15 min drive from Shipshewana)
May 18-24 - Trempealeau, WI - 6 nights (3 hour drive from McGregor)
May 24-29 - Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN - 5 nights (2 hours 15 min drive from Trempealeau)
May 29 - June 1 - Jamestown, ND - 3 nights (4 hours 50 min drive from Minneapolis)
June 1-6 - Medora, ND - 5 nights (3 hours 30 min drive from Jamestown)
June 6-10 - Badlands National Park, SD - 4 nights (6 hour drive from Medora)
June 10-12 - Deadwood, SD - 2 nights (4.5 to 5 hour drive from Badlands)
June 12-17 - Red Lodge, MT - 5 nights (4 hour drive from Deadwood)
June 17-20 - Salmon, ID - 3 nights (6 hour drive from Red Lodge)
June 20-25 - Moab, UT - 5 nights (6 hour drive from Salmon)
June 25-30 - Weaverville, CA - 5 nights (6 hour drive from Moab, with overnight stop in Nevada)
June 30 - July 4 - Buffer / flexible days - 4 nights
July 4 - Arrive Castro Valley, CA (4 hours 15 min drive from Weaverville)
I used Deepseek to help me plan out my journey. The priorities were “cute small towns,” and “countryside nearby,” as well as “dog-friendly.” Also, I didn’t want to drive more than 6 hours in one day and hope to avoid stressing me or my dogs out. Deepseek came up with the “buffer days” idea, which was interesting. I wouldn’t have thought of it, but the rationale was good—i.e., unexpected issues might arise; build in time for it.
Despite the fact that I have a history of anxiety, I really don’t live my life like an anxious person anymore and haven’t for a long time. I don’t assume things will go wrong and am not plagued by “what if?” thinking. Most of the time, I believe things are going to turn out just fine, and if they don’t, I’ll figure it out. I’m master at winging it.
How many hours of your life have you spent worrying about stuff that never happened? I used to do that in the past and gave it up. I realized how pointless it is.
Of course, the non-worrying approach can cause problems sometimes. Like this past winter when I assumed Winter Storm Fern was a bunch of hype, and I didn’t even buy bottled water. Even though I’m glad I don’t stress about such things, I’m pretty sure I’m going to die in a natural disaster one day. When I used to live in Hawaii, I was awakened one morning by a tsunami siren blaring up the mountain where I lived. I didn’t know what all the ruccus was and didn’t bother to check. I just put in earplugs and went back to sleep. Haha.