The Next Thirty Million Seconds

There are 31,536,000 seconds in a year.

Last year I traveled more than 50,000 miles and visited ten countries (or 9 countries and one territory, if you want to be particular).  I accomplished a small number of goals, seven to be exact.  Numbers alone, however, cannot relate the magnitude of those goals and what it took to accomplish them.  For example, I learned how to surf in Hawaii and my time spent volunteering with an environmental organization required a trip to Japan.

This year, as I browsed through my list of goals, picking out the ones I intend to accomplish in 2011, I noticed that many are relatively simple, while others will require serious dedication, travel to random locations or major physical conditioning.  I’ve selected thirteen goals as well as a few other experiences, locations and commitments which aren’t on the “official” Hundred Goals list.

So what’s in store for next year?

Give $100 to a Complete Stranger: The hardest part about accomplishing this goal isn’t parting with $100 but finding someone I don’t know but believe deserves the money.  Since I decided to make this a goal, I’ve only ever found one person I felt would be a great recipient of the money.

While traveling along the west coast, a sign on the side of the road for fresh strawberries caught my eye.  I pulled into the gravel driveway where a young boy was selling containers of berries from the family garden.  I asked what he was going to do with the money and he told me that he was raising money to travel to Washington, DC.  I bought a container of berries and handed him a $10 bill, telling him to keep the change.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have a $100 bill with me that day, or he would have gotten it.  In order to accomplish this goal, I have to be ready for serendipitous situations like this one, so I will begin carrying a $100 bill until I find someone who deserves the money.

Skinny Dip: This is one of those goals that doesn’t require any planning…just get naked and jump in the water.  Of course, like most things, I have a vision of the “perfect” moment.  It involves a warm summer night, a bright moon hanging in the sky and a beautiful girl swimming naked with me…now all I have to do is convince Erin to join me.  And that might be the most difficult part of knocking this one off the list!

Ride in a Hot Air Balloon: Erin bought a hot air balloon ride for my birthday but weather sidetracked our flight.  Actually, that’s okay since I think it’d be really neat to take a ride during the dead of winter.  I have a feeling this goal will be taken care of soon!

Take a Calculus Class: In order to graduate, I have to take a Calculus class.  So now, rather than a goal of learning something for the sake of learning, I have no option.  The way my schedule is working out, it looks like I’ll be taking this class during the summer.  I hope that since it’s a goal of mine that I’ll try harder and be successful.  I did well in the Pre-calculus class I took this Fall, so that’s a good sign!

Climb Devil’s Tower: I began rock climbing last year and spent one day in the Black Hills learning the basics and testing my skills on some of the easier climbs in Custer State Park.  I really enjoyed climbing outdoors (as opposed to indoors where I’d climbed exclusively up until that point).  The climbing gym in my area goes on multiple guided climbs at Devil’s Tower each year and I hope that this year will be the year that I get out to Wyoming and climb that beast!

Which leads me to one of the goals that will help me accomplish the ones on my list…

Join CrossFit:  I wrote an article the other day about my trial experience at the gym which left me heaving my guts out after two minutes.  Instead of running away because it’s hard, I think that joining CrossFit is a better option.  It will help me get into a physical condition adequate to climb Devil’s Tower this summer.

Kayak at the Apostle Islands: Our attempt this summer to kayak at the Apostle Islands was thwarted by bad weather.  Instead, we took a boat tour through the fog to see the islands.  Now that I’ve had a chance to see them in person, I’m really looking forward to getting out there on a kayak and getting even closer.  It shouldn’t be difficult to complete this goal since I only live a couple of hours away and can do it on the weekend.

Earn my Bachelor’s Degree: 2011 marks the end of my undergraduate education (if I pass all my classes, that is).  I’ll graduate in December with a degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Chemistry.

Learn to Change the Oil in my Car: This won’t be too hard since I already know how…kinda.  I just have to crawl under there and actually do it.  This will probably be something I do while visiting with Erin’s family since there are some rather automobile-inclined folks around who’d love to show me how to turn a wrench!

Ride a Unicycle: The hardest part of this goal might just be finding a unicycle…of course, I say that without ever having tried riding one, so who knows what will actually be most difficult!  I’m not sure where I’ll find a unicycle, I have no interest in buying one for the sake of accomplishing this goal…hmmm…

Fight Evil in Metropolis: This is another one of those random destinations (sort of like Eldon, Iowa) where I have no other reason to be in the area save the fact of this specific goal.  That makes these kind of goals more difficult since they require a long drive to get there.  Nevertheless, the city of Metropolis, Illinois is the home of Superman.  I’d like to dress up in a Superman costume and run around the town helping old women cross the street and getting kittens out of trees!  Okay, so maybe I won’t dress up (or will I?) but I think it would be a fun place to visit.

Try acupuncture: I just noticed an acupuncture office about a block from my apartment.  I guess I’m going to have to check it out one of these days!

Spend a Night at the Borden House: ”Lizzie Borden took an axe, and gave her mother forty whacks.  When she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one.”  I’ve had a morbid fascination with murder, crime and serial killers since I was a teenager.  Spending the night in the house where one of the most notorious murders in American history took place seems like an interesting thing to do.  Some say the house is haunted, I’m not so sure about that.  Haunted or not, I probably won’t have a good nights rest…it’s still going to be creepy!

And finally, a few things I’d like to do this year which didn’t make it onto the official list!

Become PADI Certified: In order to scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef (and under ice), I have to get dive certified.  I found a place about 15 minutes from where I live that provides training and certification.  Maybe I’ll have time yet this winter to get under some ice.

Travel to Russia: In addition to a list of goals, I have a list of places I want to visit around the world.  Moscow is one of those places.  I’d like to spend at least 2 weeks in Russia and possibly more if my summer school schedule permits.  I won’t know that information for a couple of months though.

Turn in my Peace Corps Application: One of my goals is to join the Peace Corps.  To do that, I have to turn in an application.  I already have everything filled out and ready to go, I’m just waiting for one person to write a letter of recommendation and someone else who’d be willing to write another.  I’m sure there’s someone out there…but who?

Transition to a Vegan Diet: I’ve been a vegetarian for about two months and I hope to make the switch to Vegan by year’s end.  I have a lot to learn about nutrition and such, so a gradual transition will be a more sustainable approach for me than to jump right into it without any knowledge.

 So, that’s what’s on my agenda for the next thirty million seconds.  How about you?  What do you hope to accomplish this year?