What’s really funny when my friends say it is that they’ve been saying it for at least ten years now. Ten years of living as if there’s no tomorrow, and yet, not once have they lived with the possibility of having to be prepared at the chance that they will continue to live.

It’s important to be able to truly live life as though it’s nearing its end… but it’s also important to be able to live as though your life has only just begun….

My spouse was just diagnosed with a life threatening disease. Beforehand, with writing on the wall, we talked about all we would do before his final days. Cashing out retirement, etc. With the actual diagnosis in hand, his tune changed. He doesn’t want to spend a dime – he just wants to spend more time with his family, etc. (It’s actually not that dire of a diagnosis, but mortality is still a very real possibility that he is considering).

Basically, the financial parts on the bucketlist tend to fall to the wayside when reality hits.

“Seeing more places” would probably be more on the list, but he rather stick close to home in the end.

That said, if it were possible and not inconsistent with higher priority items, there are a few things on my bucket list that do involve spending money which I would spend.