Your Bucket List Travel

[jkernitzki]

Not just where without restriction (lottery/FU money wishes), but where that you're making an honest effort to make happen.

For us, it's Japan. Now, I've been before. First in 1980 with five days in Hiroshima, and then a 13-month stint in '95-96 in Yokosuka and Sasebo.

This is the trip to take my wife and show her why I love the country so much, and see many of the things that I didn't have the time or funds for before. Three weeks in October, split between Tokyo and Osaka as "bases", with day trips and overnights from both. And yes, it'll be bloody expensive, even with all the tricks, points, and miles I've racked up over the last couple decades.

I originally was planning this for our 50th in 2028, but decided to say to hell with it and schedule now, because (a), our anniversary is February, and you don't want to go to Japan in February unless it's a ski trip, and (b), we're turning 70 this year and I'm not sure how spry and nimble we'll be in another two years. So, October 2026 it is.

This is just the first of my bucket list plans. I've got a number of other places I want to show her around from my travels. Dubai is actually pleasant in February, and that's summer in Australia, so the big Five-Oh has a couple good options left.

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[dwrufus53]

I found a cruise in the Mediterranean that has had my attention for about 10 years now - Rome to Crete to Ephesus to Athens.

 

[jkernitzki]

I found a cruise in the Mediterranean that has had my attention for about 10 years now - Rome to Crete to Ephesus to Athens.

Do it!

 

[PONY LOVER]

Not just where without restriction (lottery/FU money wishes), but where that you're making an honest effort to make happen.

For us, it's Japan. Now, I've been before. First in 1980 with five days in Hiroshima, and then a 13-month stint in '95-96 in Yokosuka and Sasebo.

This is the trip to take my wife and show her why I love the country so much, and see many of the things that I didn't have the time or funds for before. Three weeks in October, split between Tokyo and Osaka as "bases", with day trips and overnights from both. And yes, it'll be bloody expensive, even with all the tricks, points, and miles I've racked up over the last couple decades.

I originally was planning this for our 50th in 2028, but decided to say to hell with it and schedule now, because (a), our anniversary is February, and you don't want to go to Japan in February unless it's a ski trip, and (b), we're turning 70 this year and I'm not sure how spry and nimble we'll be in another two years. So, October 2026 it is.

This is just the first of my bucket list plans. I've got a number of other places I want to show her around from my travels. Dubai is actually pleasant in February, and that's summer in Australia, so the big Five-Oh has a couple good options left.

At our ages I would hate to plan that far ahead for something that special. Congrats on your marriage, we'll be hitting 48 this year in June.

 

[jkernitzki]

At our ages I would hate to plan that far ahead for something that special. Congrats on your marriage, we'll be hitting 48 this year in June.

Yeah, I get that. Part of it for us is that we spent most of our marriage apart, with me being deployed or on the road the majority of the time. I figure we've got 8 of 48 actually together, so there's a lot of catching up to do.

Maybe not by intention, but a solid secondary reason is we can't predict the future, but without planning there's really nothing to look forward to other than "Waiting for God." Sure, there's the risk that putting something on the calendar two years (or more) in advance may not happen, but it's also possible that we may not make it to the next doctor's appointment either.

I figure we're all going to go with a lot undone, but I'm still going to put it out there just in case. I'd really be pissed if I lived to 95 but left 25 years of stuff behind me that I could have done but never got around to.

Now, should that lottery suddenly become a reality there'll be a lot more spontaneity, until then though I have to plan around the projected finances in the years to come. Hell, I've got a massive set of spreadsheets out to 2032 for just that reason.

 

[rugedraw]

Not just where without restriction (lottery/FU money wishes), but where that you're making an honest effort to make happen.

For us, it's Japan. Now, I've been before. First in 1980 with five days in Hiroshima, and then a 13-month stint in '95-96 in Yokosuka and Sasebo.

Iceland is next on my list.

I went to Japan last January. 2 week trip and it wasn't enough. We stayed in 4 different cities, took bullet trains to get around and still didn't get to see everything we wanted it. I didn't get to see Hiroshima. It was beyond awesome, but get ready to do a lot of walking.

The food was out of this world and inexpensive compared to what we are used to. I had wagyu steak coming out of my ears.

Edit: The JDM car culture is strong over there (obviously). I saw some REALLY nice cars out there; lot's of modified sports cars from recent years going to back to the 80's 280z's and RX7's. It was really cool to see.

 

[jkernitzki]

Iceland is next on my list.

I went to Japan last January. 2 week trip and it wasn't enough. We stayed in 4 different cities, took bullet trains to get around and still didn't get to see everything we wanted it. It was beyond awesome, but get ready to do a lot of walking.

The food was out of this world and inexpensive compared to what we are used to. I had wagyu steak coming out of my ears.

Iceland is on my “second-tier” list. I’d love to see it, but there’s lots of places that have to come before it for us.

Hopefully when you were in Japan you ate at a Sushiro at least a couple times. Probably the best value around. Between them and conbini snacks our food budget will have a lot of slack for a few really great meals. Already planning on the last night’s meal at Tepppanyaki Ginza Himawari.

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