One More Year

Next month I turn 39. I will only have a year until 40.

My 30th birthday was ominous. It was frightening. I had things I wanted to do before I was 30. Personal goals. That was how I got my master’s degree.

But as 40 approaches, I find I am fine with getting older.

The only things on my bucket list for 40 are about friendship, fun and travel. That seems easy, but in some ways it’s harder than any personal goal I have set for myself. Mostly because it depends so much on other people. With personal goals, I only have to set my mind to it and do it.

With travel, you have to have money. And that is something of which I don’t have a lot of extra lying around.

The 2016 NKOTB Cruise was just announced, and even though I think the other passengers would drive me crazy, it’s still something I would like to do. But it’s too expensive. Over $800 for a three-day cruise! That’s for the cheap cabins and without airfare. I cannot justify it.

And although I would love to visit some friends overseas, the $1,000 airfare holds me back.

So, that’s okay. I really just want to spend time with friends. Not just at home. I would like to have a trip with a group of girlfriends. We could leave behind the children and menfolk and just have some fun not being in Pennsylvania. I would love to go to some resort or rent a beach house, but even a road trip to Graceland might be fun. I’m not that picky. Just any place new that’s not home.

I have a whole year to figure it out and get it done. Bring it on.