There. I said it. I think it would be so much fun to buy an older home with sturdy bones that was looking unloved and abandoned and whip it into shape. Renovations can be a pain, I know that. It would be still fun, however, to take something from a run-down status to a thriving space. The only problem? I have this thing called a job. And student loan debt. And I haven't won the lottery yet. But when I do ...
... that whole renovation thing is going to happen.
DIY is awesome.
Turning an old door into a coffee table? Yes, please.
Turning an old dresser into a bench with storage? You betcha!
Making a wood block lamp? Bring it on.
Using old windows as photo frames? Easy!
Turning an old shutter into a bill organize or mail holder? Totally cool.
Using mason jars as hanging lights? Awesome.
And we don't even need to mention the fire pit I've already discussed.
There's something fulfilling about being creative and making something new out of something old. Re-purposing is a better way to say it, I guess.
But you don't re-purpose a house. You RENOVATE. And I would love to do that.
Busting out walls? Fun!
Laying new floors? Exciting!
Shopping for colors and appliances and furnishings? Delightful!
Gutting bathrooms? Cool!
Re-doing a kitchen? Exhilarating!
Demolishing gross cabinets? Awesome!
We're not renovating our house currently, nor do we have plans to buy a home and renovate it any time soon, but one of these days I've GOT to do a renovation. Even if it's only to say I did it, I want to do a renovation.
If you're doing a renovation invite me over, okay? Maybe if I kick in your walls I won't feel the need to do it in a home I own. Deal?
Showing posts with label Wishlist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wishlist. Show all posts
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
Lawn Mowers
Let's talk lawn mowers. We currently have a Craftsman riding mower. It does the job and works well. We've had some issues with it (blades needed sharpening, a tire problem, etc.), but it's not very old and still in good shape. But I don't like that mower. It's big, but still feels cramped when you ride it. The turning radius is terrible. The bag and catcher have never worked correctly. It has ... problems.
Something like one of these is what I would *love* to have instead:
The first one with the steering wheel would be ideal. I would worry about trying to work the other one. It might be a little too ... complicated for me? How do you work those bars? Left down to go left, right down to go right? Plus, what would happen if it tipped or something? It feels like you'd be more trapped with that one, but maybe not.
What I do like is the container for your feet. It looks very solid. The engine is also in the back, so no more hot legs (that are already scorching hot because of the 100 degree days we've had). The thing I don't get is where the bag goes. Or does it not have bags available? We really need a new bag and catcher on our Craftsman, but they cost a good chunk of money. If these mulched, etc., it might be worth it to invest in a machine like this than trying to find the exact bag and catcher that will work with what we currently have.
Our current tractor has a 42" deck, so it would be nice to have something wider, but still compact. These "dream machines" are both 42" as well, but it's their design that does it for me. Guess I'd better start saving my pennies and hope the Craftsman doesn't give out too soon. Until then, I'll try to be grateful that we even have a mower, especially since the grass is shriveling up under all this heat. We might not even need a mower when this summer gets over!
Something like one of these is what I would *love* to have instead:
The first one with the steering wheel would be ideal. I would worry about trying to work the other one. It might be a little too ... complicated for me? How do you work those bars? Left down to go left, right down to go right? Plus, what would happen if it tipped or something? It feels like you'd be more trapped with that one, but maybe not.
What I do like is the container for your feet. It looks very solid. The engine is also in the back, so no more hot legs (that are already scorching hot because of the 100 degree days we've had). The thing I don't get is where the bag goes. Or does it not have bags available? We really need a new bag and catcher on our Craftsman, but they cost a good chunk of money. If these mulched, etc., it might be worth it to invest in a machine like this than trying to find the exact bag and catcher that will work with what we currently have.
Our current tractor has a 42" deck, so it would be nice to have something wider, but still compact. These "dream machines" are both 42" as well, but it's their design that does it for me. Guess I'd better start saving my pennies and hope the Craftsman doesn't give out too soon. Until then, I'll try to be grateful that we even have a mower, especially since the grass is shriveling up under all this heat. We might not even need a mower when this summer gets over!
Monday, May 18, 2015
What I'd Do if I Won the Lottery
This is a post that will probably change a million times before it's final final. The reason for that is not because I keep thinking of other ways to spend the money, but because I'm torn over what I would give away and how much and when and ... gah! It stresses me out, and the money isn't even real! Imagine if the money were real. I'd be a wreck.
But there are some things I would like to do if I won the lottery. In no particular order, here they are (another list!):
Donate to Humanitarian Aid and other welfare-based charities
Retire early (I'd do this after a few years so I'd know how the money had "settled")
Design and build a house - a one level house that would be easy to get around in old age (the plans are already in my head, just need the cash to do it)
Buy property (like, 25 acres)
Adopt or buy more dogs
Spend a lot of time researching a successful way to build/run/manage a homeless shelter
Do Family History
Travel (in order to do Family History, of course)
Learn how to make my own cheese, yogurt, etc.
Grow a HUGE garden
Maybe even make a community garden (fun, right?)
Take all sorts of college courses on whatever topics I wanted
Make a gazillion quilts
Have a library in my house
Have an outdoor kitchen
Make sure each of my siblings had a home that was paid off and a vehicle (or two) that was paid off
Pay for a funeral plan and buy a cemetery plot
Make an iron-clad will
Volunteer at schools to help kids learn to read and write
Tutor for free
Make my own bread
Cook and cook and cook and bake and cook and bake and bake
Buy ATVs so I could ride with Mom
Learn photography and buy a very nice camera
Have an indoor gym and an outdoor tennis/basketball court
Make pajama pants for every family every year for Christmas
Write, write, write, write, write
Maybe even write a book
Buy an iMac so I can write a book
Projects, projects, projects - I could project every day
Do a lot of reading and studying
Visit the temples around the world
Build a cabin and property in the mountains so we have a family time share
Have a paved walking/running trail around my property
Have a built-in fire pit station
Plant a lot of trees
Grow fruit!
Eat better - a lot better because of all the cooking and baking
Regularly make homemade ice cream
Make my own pasta - with my Kitchenaid Mixer and all its handy tools and attachments
Join or create clubs (book club, sewing club, quilting club, etc.)
Make my own curtains
Take a few classes in interior decoration/design
Start a scholarship fund in memory/honor of my mom and dad
Get healthy and stay healthy
Exercise every day (lots of dogs = lots of walking)
Have a projector and a white screen so we can watch movies outside
Take the family to Disney World - all expenses paid by me
Have a totally awesome two year supply of food, water, and whatever else
Find a place to put a barn (because I like them)
Build a pergola
Share my garden crops with family and neighbors
Maybe learn to ride a horse (the thought actually scares me as much as I'd love to do it)
Pay off the homes (or buy homes for) a few of my very close friends
Live debt free (after the government sucked me dry paying off student loans, of course)
Make my own weed killer and perfect it (dang dandelions!)
Learn how to knit and crochet (but I don't know how much coordination it would take or if I have enough of it to manage)
Build up the town library with books, magazines, etc.
Start my own newspaper or magazine
Learn how to make pottery
Paint ceramics
Be organized (oh please let me win the lottery just for this one!)
Make a play house out of an Airstream trailer
Install a playground (a big one) on my property for the neighbor kids
Stay busy with civic stuff and be involved in the community
Maybe teach some music courses (big maybe - not sure if I'd enjoy this or not)
Spend every minute I possibly could with Mom
Have enough money, time, and strength to take care of Mom in her "old age", or provide the means for someone highly qualified to do it
That's a long list, I know. Basically, I just want to do good and have the time to do good. I'd retire, yes, but I'd live a VERY full life and not just sit around being dull or boring. A lot of good comes from donating, so I definitely want to do that, but I think more good comes from actually doing. I want to get out there and do good. Learning is also important, so that would be at the top of my list. Never stop learning.
The thing about winning the lottery is that you could let it all go to your head, blow all that money on cars or gambling or whatever, and never accomplish good in the world around you. That's what happens to a lot of people. There's even a well-known curse on lottery winners that most of them end up going bankrupt. For me, I want to have nice things (as in secure things, e.g. a nice home), but I'd like to spend my time learning, growing, and doing.
Think how much a community garden could benefit a neighborhood, especially if some of those neighbors were really struggling to eat (much less eat well) and what that good food would do for them and their families. The idea would be that I pay for what is planted and provide the property to grow it, but each family that wants to participate has their own little "plot" to care for. If they let it become overgrown with weeds they lose their portion. If they care for it and love it and encourage its growth, they reap the rewards when it's time to harvest. It's an "earn your keep" mentality, but also provides a way for the earning to be there for some people. It's just a cool idea I've been mulling over for years.
Same thing with the homes and vehicles for my siblings. I would want them to always have a place that they owned outright. And, of course, I'd want them to have a vehicle that was new and capable of getting where they needed when they needed to get there. I would want reliability for them, not just for me.
I realize much of these would take a lot of money to accomplish, but many of them would require mostly just time and effort. If I won the lottery and retired, I'd definitely have the time to put in the effort to make them happen. And a lot of lives could be blessed from that time and those efforts. How many people can afford to volunteer at a school? Not many, but it would be so much fun! Those kids would be able to teach you so much. What you could teach them would be invaluable as well. It's a win-win. And I'd love to do that kind of thing.
Wishful thinking, right? You can't win unless you play, right? All true, but it's fun to imagine what I could or would do! All good things, I hope. For now, I'll keep dreaming.
But there are some things I would like to do if I won the lottery. In no particular order, here they are (another list!):
Donate to Humanitarian Aid and other welfare-based charities
Retire early (I'd do this after a few years so I'd know how the money had "settled")
Design and build a house - a one level house that would be easy to get around in old age (the plans are already in my head, just need the cash to do it)
Buy property (like, 25 acres)
Adopt or buy more dogs
Spend a lot of time researching a successful way to build/run/manage a homeless shelter
Do Family History
Travel (in order to do Family History, of course)
Learn how to make my own cheese, yogurt, etc.
Grow a HUGE garden
Maybe even make a community garden (fun, right?)
Take all sorts of college courses on whatever topics I wanted
Make a gazillion quilts
Have a library in my house
Have an outdoor kitchen
Make sure each of my siblings had a home that was paid off and a vehicle (or two) that was paid off
Pay for a funeral plan and buy a cemetery plot
Make an iron-clad will
Volunteer at schools to help kids learn to read and write
Tutor for free
Make my own bread
Cook and cook and cook and bake and cook and bake and bake
Buy ATVs so I could ride with Mom
Learn photography and buy a very nice camera
Have an indoor gym and an outdoor tennis/basketball court
Make pajama pants for every family every year for Christmas
Write, write, write, write, write
Maybe even write a book
Buy an iMac so I can write a book
Projects, projects, projects - I could project every day
Do a lot of reading and studying
Visit the temples around the world
Build a cabin and property in the mountains so we have a family time share
Have a paved walking/running trail around my property
Have a built-in fire pit station
Plant a lot of trees
Grow fruit!
Eat better - a lot better because of all the cooking and baking
Regularly make homemade ice cream
Make my own pasta - with my Kitchenaid Mixer and all its handy tools and attachments
Join or create clubs (book club, sewing club, quilting club, etc.)
Make my own curtains
Take a few classes in interior decoration/design
Start a scholarship fund in memory/honor of my mom and dad
Get healthy and stay healthy
Exercise every day (lots of dogs = lots of walking)
Have a projector and a white screen so we can watch movies outside
Take the family to Disney World - all expenses paid by me
Have a totally awesome two year supply of food, water, and whatever else
Find a place to put a barn (because I like them)
Build a pergola
Share my garden crops with family and neighbors
Maybe learn to ride a horse (the thought actually scares me as much as I'd love to do it)
Pay off the homes (or buy homes for) a few of my very close friends
Live debt free (after the government sucked me dry paying off student loans, of course)
Make my own weed killer and perfect it (dang dandelions!)
Learn how to knit and crochet (but I don't know how much coordination it would take or if I have enough of it to manage)
Build up the town library with books, magazines, etc.
Start my own newspaper or magazine
Learn how to make pottery
Paint ceramics
Be organized (oh please let me win the lottery just for this one!)
Make a play house out of an Airstream trailer
Install a playground (a big one) on my property for the neighbor kids
Stay busy with civic stuff and be involved in the community
Maybe teach some music courses (big maybe - not sure if I'd enjoy this or not)
Spend every minute I possibly could with Mom
Have enough money, time, and strength to take care of Mom in her "old age", or provide the means for someone highly qualified to do it
That's a long list, I know. Basically, I just want to do good and have the time to do good. I'd retire, yes, but I'd live a VERY full life and not just sit around being dull or boring. A lot of good comes from donating, so I definitely want to do that, but I think more good comes from actually doing. I want to get out there and do good. Learning is also important, so that would be at the top of my list. Never stop learning.
The thing about winning the lottery is that you could let it all go to your head, blow all that money on cars or gambling or whatever, and never accomplish good in the world around you. That's what happens to a lot of people. There's even a well-known curse on lottery winners that most of them end up going bankrupt. For me, I want to have nice things (as in secure things, e.g. a nice home), but I'd like to spend my time learning, growing, and doing.
Think how much a community garden could benefit a neighborhood, especially if some of those neighbors were really struggling to eat (much less eat well) and what that good food would do for them and their families. The idea would be that I pay for what is planted and provide the property to grow it, but each family that wants to participate has their own little "plot" to care for. If they let it become overgrown with weeds they lose their portion. If they care for it and love it and encourage its growth, they reap the rewards when it's time to harvest. It's an "earn your keep" mentality, but also provides a way for the earning to be there for some people. It's just a cool idea I've been mulling over for years.
Same thing with the homes and vehicles for my siblings. I would want them to always have a place that they owned outright. And, of course, I'd want them to have a vehicle that was new and capable of getting where they needed when they needed to get there. I would want reliability for them, not just for me.
I realize much of these would take a lot of money to accomplish, but many of them would require mostly just time and effort. If I won the lottery and retired, I'd definitely have the time to put in the effort to make them happen. And a lot of lives could be blessed from that time and those efforts. How many people can afford to volunteer at a school? Not many, but it would be so much fun! Those kids would be able to teach you so much. What you could teach them would be invaluable as well. It's a win-win. And I'd love to do that kind of thing.
Wishful thinking, right? You can't win unless you play, right? All true, but it's fun to imagine what I could or would do! All good things, I hope. For now, I'll keep dreaming.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Places I Want to Go
1. Ireland
It's just so green there. Plus, they have a coast line. Sheep and goats and other animals graze freely. The countryside looks so beautiful. It feels cozy to me. I've been to Europe, and this would definitely take me back to some of those fond memories. Even if I had to see "another damn castle" (which is another story for another day). Ireland is definitely on the top of my list of places to visit.
2. Scotland
For many of the same reasons as Ireland. But there are also the bagpipes and the very cool and very distinct accent. I could just go and listen to people speak. That would be an expensive trip to hear people speak, no? It's green in Scotland, too, which makes things feel cozy. I don't know why that is though. Maybe because I grew up in a desert?
3. Switzerland (again)
I've been to Switzerland (Bern) and loved it. We stayed in a hotel where all the bedding was down filled. The bed was even down filled. It was heaven! Plus, the Swiss people are very gracious and like visitors. It wasn't like France where they tried to pull the "good" food from the Americans and save it for their other guests. And the cities and streets are clean. They're not rat-infested like the tube in Paris. I have fond memories of Switzerland and really, really want to go back some day. The plan was to retire there, but the American dollar makes that impossible if you're not a millionaire.
4. Hawaii
This is kind of a strange one for me because I'm not a fan of the water. I don't surf or scuba dive or enjoy being in or near the water at all. Beaches are okay, but I'm not a fan of large masses of people, so the main island beaches would be taxing on me. I think the draw to Hawaii is that it's part of America, but it's so different from every other part of the country. I have friends who live in Hawaii, and they live a very laid back, relaxed lifestyle. It would do me good to slow down a bit and soak up the fact that we're living and breathing on this planet every day, you know? I would definitely have to visit a pineapple plantation, and I would want to send home 5,000 pounds of coconut. I've heard the swap meets there are pretty amazing, so that would be fun, too.
5. Alaska
This is another frontier of America that seems so different than all the rest. I'm not really an outdoorsy girl, but I do love to see a bear or a moose or other animals roaming around. (Not close to me, but close enough that I can see them.) Alaska has some of the best fishing in the world. Not that I would fish for it, but I would totally pay someone to catch me some salmon and halibut and have it shipped back to the home front for my enjoyment. We have neighbors who live in Alaska part-time, so occasionally we get to share in their fish goods. The only drawback is knowing that Alaska is freaking cold eight months out of the year, and much of that time it's also dark. I couldn't live there, but a summer visit for a few weeks would be incredible.
6. The Antarctic/Arctic
I just want to see a polar bear and penguins up close in their habitat, okay? And then I want to be on a nice, warm plane back to civilization. No, I do not want to sleep in ice caves.
7. Greece
The draw for Greece are the photos you always see of the white and blue houses lined up on the hillside and not plunging into the sea. It looks so quaint. There's also a lot of history in Greece, so it would be interesting to get in on that kind of tour and really hear it from the locals. The problem with Greece is the food. I've heard both good and bad things about it. I'd probably have to find one or two things I really loved and just stick with those the entire trip. Totally worth it though.
8. Spain
I don't even know what to say about Spain. The people, the culture, the food, the history. It would be so amazing to spend time there and soak in the local atmosphere. In order to make this trip, however, I'd totally have to brush up on the Spanish speaking skills. As in I'd have to learn Spanish all over again to make this trip worthwhile. How cool would it be to speak the language and know exactly what people were talking about without having to use a dictionary?
9. Italy
The food! That's the main draw to Italy. I love Italian food. I like the spices, the flavors, the pastas, and the cheeses. This trip would be at the very top if I could shadow a professional chef for six weeks while I was there and then take another six weeks to explore the countryside. There are so many different flavors in Italy, too. The food in the north is different than the food in the south or east or west. I would definitely need time to explore all of it. Plus, colorful houses. Fun, fun!
10. Puerto Rico
I think this would be the best trip to observe people. The Latin cultures really live it up, and I would love to watch as people lived their lives and found happiness in every day things. There's sand here, too, so I could get the beach experience without having to go in the water. Do they have nude beaches? I might have to re-think that part of the trip.
11. New Zealand
We had a guy from New Zealand who lived in our ward, and I loved to listen to him talk. This is another place of accents that I would love to visit and just listen as people talked. New Zealand also has green and a coastline and history and good food. The problem is the water. I don't like boats, and I tend to get motion sick, so as long as everyone understood we go nowhere on a boat I'd be fine.
12. Australia
For all the same reasons as New Zealand, but I'd also like to see the outback portion of Australia. I want to see a kangaroo up close and in real life. I want to see koalas and elephants. The dust would definitely not do me good, and I'm not willing to camp out anywhere (shower and toilet, yes please!). I'd love to see the whole of this country though.
13. British Columbia
I don't know why, but the western part of Canada really intrigues me. I don't really care about visiting the eastern part of the country, although I'm sure it's very nice. In British Columbia you get to fly to certain areas because you have to cross water. How cool would it be to take one of those planes that lands on water? Could you imagine commuting to work like that every day? Awesome. Probably expensive though.
14. Hungary
I'd have to go with Mom though because she loved Hungary when she visited. It would be fun to have her along for her previous perspective and be able to discover and explore new things with her. Budapest is of special interest here, but Mom would definitely have to be with me.
15. Prague
Same reasons as Hungary, and Mom would also have to travel with me.
16. Jerusalem
If it weren't for all the violence in that region I would be on a plane right now and plant myself in the middle of the Holy Land and not come home for three months or until I'd seen the whole place. It would be incredible to walk the same streets that the Savior walked. Obviously, the streets today look different than they did then, but I bet there's a spirit about them that would be amazing to feel and carry with you. My guess is Mom would have to come on this one, too.
17. Peru
Mom really wants to see Macchu Pichu. I'm game for that. I think there's a lot more to this country though. One of my former bosses lived in Peru for a while, and he invited us to come and stay with them if we could afford a ticket there. I'd love that. We could explore by day, crash at night, and start all over again. This would definitely need to be an extended vacation though.
18. Mexico (again)
We only saw a few little cities in the state of Morelia while we were in Mexico. We stayed in Mexico City at the beginning and end of our trip, but there's not much there I'd be interested in seeing again. I would, however, love to return to the country for other areas (Cancun) and walk on those sandy beaches in the blazing sun. The trouble is a lot of the places are saturated with visitors, so I'd have to go at a time when the rest of the populace was elsewhere. This would probably require a bit of research, and it would definitely need to be an extended vacation.
19. Chile
I want to see where my parents met. My feelings about Chile are very special, and yet I know very little about the place. I want to go and experience the history there. There are different foods and cultures. I'd want to see the European influence and the Spanish influence in the way the cities are built and the homes designed and the neighborhoods developed. This would have to be more than an extended vacation. It would need to be weeks of time, even months, in order to savor it all.
20. Wales
Home of some of my ancestry. I would love to visit Wales and learn more about the history and culture there. It might give some insight as to why I am the way I am. More than anything, I feel a draw to this place because people from there sacrificed so much in order for me to have what I have today. I owe those people a lot. It would be fitting to pay tribute by visiting their land and realizing their circumstances and life experiences.
21. Iceland
For the same reason as Wales. I feel like I can't pronounce any Icelandic name on my family tree, and I want to change that. I don't feel a strong pull to learn the language, but I do want to see where my family members lived and breathed and worked and rallied.
22. Belgium
The architecture is kind of what pulls me toward Belgium. I like how there are streets lined up against the water (like Venice), but that it has a European feel and flair. The country is OLD, so you know there's a ton of history there. I'd love to walk the streets and soak it all in.
23. Philippines
My grandparents served a mission to the Philippines. My grandfather also served in WWII there. I would love to see this country and meet the people. I understand the culture is very distinct, the people are very good and kind and humble, and the environment is amazing. It wouldn't surprise me if Grandpa had mixed feelings about serving his mission in a place where he fought for America's freedom. It had to be kind of bitter sweet. I want to go for myself so that I have fond memories of the place.
24. Sweden and Norway
I combined these two because it's for the same reason: to see where my ancestry came from. A few years ago, my mom was offered a beta DNA test through Ancestry.com. My dad had just passed away, so we were trying to determine where he came from since many of their family records were lost in fires or records just weren't kept. The DNA test came back with an original finding that I was 94% Nordic and 6% Other. Those are some strong Nordic ties. I'd love to get there and feel the countries. There is history there, too, and I'd love to experience it.
25. England (again)
England, like Switzerland, was a great experience. I'm still confused by the whole pound v. American dollar transaction rates, etc., but I would love to go back. We did some of the major touristy things while we were there (watched the changing of the guard, saw Big Ben, etc.), so I'd love to go more into the countryside and visit the nooks and crannies of the country that we missed. This is another place where the accents are killer, so you would probably find me lost in a crowd just listening to people talk. That's why this would have to be another one of those months of vacation places.
There you have it! My top 25 places I want to go. The order shifts around sometimes depending on what I'm feeling drawn to at the moment, so these aren't really in a particular order. Ranking them would be too difficult. They're all great!
Now, I've either got to work on winning the lottery or making millions at work in order to visit them all. Wish me luck!
It's just so green there. Plus, they have a coast line. Sheep and goats and other animals graze freely. The countryside looks so beautiful. It feels cozy to me. I've been to Europe, and this would definitely take me back to some of those fond memories. Even if I had to see "another damn castle" (which is another story for another day). Ireland is definitely on the top of my list of places to visit.
2. Scotland
For many of the same reasons as Ireland. But there are also the bagpipes and the very cool and very distinct accent. I could just go and listen to people speak. That would be an expensive trip to hear people speak, no? It's green in Scotland, too, which makes things feel cozy. I don't know why that is though. Maybe because I grew up in a desert?
3. Switzerland (again)
I've been to Switzerland (Bern) and loved it. We stayed in a hotel where all the bedding was down filled. The bed was even down filled. It was heaven! Plus, the Swiss people are very gracious and like visitors. It wasn't like France where they tried to pull the "good" food from the Americans and save it for their other guests. And the cities and streets are clean. They're not rat-infested like the tube in Paris. I have fond memories of Switzerland and really, really want to go back some day. The plan was to retire there, but the American dollar makes that impossible if you're not a millionaire.
4. Hawaii
This is kind of a strange one for me because I'm not a fan of the water. I don't surf or scuba dive or enjoy being in or near the water at all. Beaches are okay, but I'm not a fan of large masses of people, so the main island beaches would be taxing on me. I think the draw to Hawaii is that it's part of America, but it's so different from every other part of the country. I have friends who live in Hawaii, and they live a very laid back, relaxed lifestyle. It would do me good to slow down a bit and soak up the fact that we're living and breathing on this planet every day, you know? I would definitely have to visit a pineapple plantation, and I would want to send home 5,000 pounds of coconut. I've heard the swap meets there are pretty amazing, so that would be fun, too.
5. Alaska
This is another frontier of America that seems so different than all the rest. I'm not really an outdoorsy girl, but I do love to see a bear or a moose or other animals roaming around. (Not close to me, but close enough that I can see them.) Alaska has some of the best fishing in the world. Not that I would fish for it, but I would totally pay someone to catch me some salmon and halibut and have it shipped back to the home front for my enjoyment. We have neighbors who live in Alaska part-time, so occasionally we get to share in their fish goods. The only drawback is knowing that Alaska is freaking cold eight months out of the year, and much of that time it's also dark. I couldn't live there, but a summer visit for a few weeks would be incredible.
6. The Antarctic/Arctic
I just want to see a polar bear and penguins up close in their habitat, okay? And then I want to be on a nice, warm plane back to civilization. No, I do not want to sleep in ice caves.
7. Greece
The draw for Greece are the photos you always see of the white and blue houses lined up on the hillside and not plunging into the sea. It looks so quaint. There's also a lot of history in Greece, so it would be interesting to get in on that kind of tour and really hear it from the locals. The problem with Greece is the food. I've heard both good and bad things about it. I'd probably have to find one or two things I really loved and just stick with those the entire trip. Totally worth it though.
8. Spain
I don't even know what to say about Spain. The people, the culture, the food, the history. It would be so amazing to spend time there and soak in the local atmosphere. In order to make this trip, however, I'd totally have to brush up on the Spanish speaking skills. As in I'd have to learn Spanish all over again to make this trip worthwhile. How cool would it be to speak the language and know exactly what people were talking about without having to use a dictionary?
9. Italy
The food! That's the main draw to Italy. I love Italian food. I like the spices, the flavors, the pastas, and the cheeses. This trip would be at the very top if I could shadow a professional chef for six weeks while I was there and then take another six weeks to explore the countryside. There are so many different flavors in Italy, too. The food in the north is different than the food in the south or east or west. I would definitely need time to explore all of it. Plus, colorful houses. Fun, fun!
10. Puerto Rico
I think this would be the best trip to observe people. The Latin cultures really live it up, and I would love to watch as people lived their lives and found happiness in every day things. There's sand here, too, so I could get the beach experience without having to go in the water. Do they have nude beaches? I might have to re-think that part of the trip.
11. New Zealand
We had a guy from New Zealand who lived in our ward, and I loved to listen to him talk. This is another place of accents that I would love to visit and just listen as people talked. New Zealand also has green and a coastline and history and good food. The problem is the water. I don't like boats, and I tend to get motion sick, so as long as everyone understood we go nowhere on a boat I'd be fine.
12. Australia
For all the same reasons as New Zealand, but I'd also like to see the outback portion of Australia. I want to see a kangaroo up close and in real life. I want to see koalas and elephants. The dust would definitely not do me good, and I'm not willing to camp out anywhere (shower and toilet, yes please!). I'd love to see the whole of this country though.
13. British Columbia
I don't know why, but the western part of Canada really intrigues me. I don't really care about visiting the eastern part of the country, although I'm sure it's very nice. In British Columbia you get to fly to certain areas because you have to cross water. How cool would it be to take one of those planes that lands on water? Could you imagine commuting to work like that every day? Awesome. Probably expensive though.
14. Hungary
I'd have to go with Mom though because she loved Hungary when she visited. It would be fun to have her along for her previous perspective and be able to discover and explore new things with her. Budapest is of special interest here, but Mom would definitely have to be with me.
15. Prague
Same reasons as Hungary, and Mom would also have to travel with me.
16. Jerusalem
If it weren't for all the violence in that region I would be on a plane right now and plant myself in the middle of the Holy Land and not come home for three months or until I'd seen the whole place. It would be incredible to walk the same streets that the Savior walked. Obviously, the streets today look different than they did then, but I bet there's a spirit about them that would be amazing to feel and carry with you. My guess is Mom would have to come on this one, too.
17. Peru
Mom really wants to see Macchu Pichu. I'm game for that. I think there's a lot more to this country though. One of my former bosses lived in Peru for a while, and he invited us to come and stay with them if we could afford a ticket there. I'd love that. We could explore by day, crash at night, and start all over again. This would definitely need to be an extended vacation though.
18. Mexico (again)
We only saw a few little cities in the state of Morelia while we were in Mexico. We stayed in Mexico City at the beginning and end of our trip, but there's not much there I'd be interested in seeing again. I would, however, love to return to the country for other areas (Cancun) and walk on those sandy beaches in the blazing sun. The trouble is a lot of the places are saturated with visitors, so I'd have to go at a time when the rest of the populace was elsewhere. This would probably require a bit of research, and it would definitely need to be an extended vacation.
19. Chile
I want to see where my parents met. My feelings about Chile are very special, and yet I know very little about the place. I want to go and experience the history there. There are different foods and cultures. I'd want to see the European influence and the Spanish influence in the way the cities are built and the homes designed and the neighborhoods developed. This would have to be more than an extended vacation. It would need to be weeks of time, even months, in order to savor it all.
20. Wales
Home of some of my ancestry. I would love to visit Wales and learn more about the history and culture there. It might give some insight as to why I am the way I am. More than anything, I feel a draw to this place because people from there sacrificed so much in order for me to have what I have today. I owe those people a lot. It would be fitting to pay tribute by visiting their land and realizing their circumstances and life experiences.
21. Iceland
For the same reason as Wales. I feel like I can't pronounce any Icelandic name on my family tree, and I want to change that. I don't feel a strong pull to learn the language, but I do want to see where my family members lived and breathed and worked and rallied.
22. Belgium
The architecture is kind of what pulls me toward Belgium. I like how there are streets lined up against the water (like Venice), but that it has a European feel and flair. The country is OLD, so you know there's a ton of history there. I'd love to walk the streets and soak it all in.
23. Philippines
My grandparents served a mission to the Philippines. My grandfather also served in WWII there. I would love to see this country and meet the people. I understand the culture is very distinct, the people are very good and kind and humble, and the environment is amazing. It wouldn't surprise me if Grandpa had mixed feelings about serving his mission in a place where he fought for America's freedom. It had to be kind of bitter sweet. I want to go for myself so that I have fond memories of the place.
24. Sweden and Norway
I combined these two because it's for the same reason: to see where my ancestry came from. A few years ago, my mom was offered a beta DNA test through Ancestry.com. My dad had just passed away, so we were trying to determine where he came from since many of their family records were lost in fires or records just weren't kept. The DNA test came back with an original finding that I was 94% Nordic and 6% Other. Those are some strong Nordic ties. I'd love to get there and feel the countries. There is history there, too, and I'd love to experience it.
25. England (again)
England, like Switzerland, was a great experience. I'm still confused by the whole pound v. American dollar transaction rates, etc., but I would love to go back. We did some of the major touristy things while we were there (watched the changing of the guard, saw Big Ben, etc.), so I'd love to go more into the countryside and visit the nooks and crannies of the country that we missed. This is another place where the accents are killer, so you would probably find me lost in a crowd just listening to people talk. That's why this would have to be another one of those months of vacation places.
There you have it! My top 25 places I want to go. The order shifts around sometimes depending on what I'm feeling drawn to at the moment, so these aren't really in a particular order. Ranking them would be too difficult. They're all great!
Now, I've either got to work on winning the lottery or making millions at work in order to visit them all. Wish me luck!
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