Bucket Listless: Why I’ve Aged Out of the Bucket List Craze
- Sue Leonard
- Aug 9
- 4 min read
Or: Why I’d Rather Organize Photos Than Jump Out of a Plane
On August 3, 2025, CBS News Sunday Morning (1) ran a segment on bucket lists. They reported a Standford Study (2) that discovered that 9 out of 10 Americans have one. Really? Who did they ask? I’m guessing most were younger than my 75+ age group.
I turned to my husband and said, “I think I’ve aged out of having a bucket list.”
Truth is, I’ve never had one. Sure, there were places I wanted to see and things I hoped to do. But I never called it a bucket list. Many of my friends say the same. We had dreams, or vague “somedays,” but not a formal list.
It Started With the Bucket List Movie
The phrase only became popular after the 2007 movie The Bucket List, where Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, both terminally ill, ditch the hospital and set out to cram in a lifetime of adventures before they “kick the bucket.”
In the CBS segment, 85-year-old Bobby Oxford crossed off a lifelong dream: driving a race car. As a teen, she watched her brother drag race but never got the chance because she was a girl. Good for her. But I think my thrill-seeking days are behind me. Between my bifocals and slowed reflexes, I’d be disappointed if I couldn’t hit 120 mph.
That said, I had my moment in the fast lane. As a teenager, my friend—who had zero interest in cars—would toss me the keys to her Corvette. I’d zoom around country roads like a maniac. I’m lucky I never totaled it. She did—going 30 in the city, she missed a stop sign. Her car was totaled. Her parents bought her a new one. Meanwhile, I, the speed-loving one, drove a beat-up 1954 Dodge station wagon. Life’s funny like that.
Fifteen percent of the people in the study craved adrenaline on their bucket list. Maria Leonard Olsen, 62, had skydiving and bungee jumping on her list to conquer her fear of heights. Fair enough. But with my osteoporosis, bungee jumping isn’t advised.
Besides, I’ve faced my fears of heights. I once stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon with no guardrails. And I’ve flown in a small plane with my husband as the pilot. He always said, “Why jump out of a perfectly functioning airplane?”
As for mountain climbing, a hard pass. I hate being cold. Mt. Everest averages -2°F in July. At this age, I got winded just walking around the top of Pike’s Peak; and we took the tram.
My husband once dreamed of going to Antarctica. I told him, “Great! Find someone else to go with.” Spending $10,000 to $30,000 to freeze and be seasick? No thanks. I’ll visit the penguins at the zoo.
A trip to Africa still intrigues me, but so far, the stars haven’t aligned.
What is a Bucket List?
Which brings me to the question: What is a bucket list? How is it different from goals, aspirations, or a wish list? Most people think of travel, adventure, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. But for some, it’s more reflective.
A friend said if she had a bucket list, it would be about people: making amends, reconnecting with a college roommate, or finding out what her high school sweetheart looks like now. “Who would you want one more conversation with?” she asked. A lovely thought.
As for travel, many of us found our destinations through a mix of dreams and serendipity. My top two travel wishes when I was younger were Italy and Paris. Italy had everything I imagined—friendly people, great food, and ancient history. But I think it was also the soundtrack of my youth that drew me in. Italian-American singers were everywhere—Dean Martin crooning “That’s Amore,” Tony Bennett, Lou Monte, Dion, Connie Francis. The songs painted a picture of romance, charm, and sun-drenched piazzas.
Paris? Well, it’s Paris. Maybe it was the elegance, the history, the food—or just the idea of Paris itself.
We made it to both early in our travels. After that, we let the brochures guide us. Whatever arrived in the mail that year, if it looked intriguing, we went. That’s how we ended up in Argentina and Chile. We’d never been to South America, so… why not?
A friend of mine said many of her travels were based on wherever her son wanted to go. She just went along for the ride.
At this stage of life, I’ve replaced the idea of a bucket list with something quieter, and maybe more lasting. I want to leave a legacy. To finish compiling our family’s genealogy and organize the decades of photos and stories so they’re preserved for future generations. And after recently losing our beloved cat Casey, I want to complete Purr-sonalities, a book about the sweet, fluffy companions who’ve brightened our lives. I want to be present for my friends and community. That’s more important to me than checking off a list.
Ken Jennings, of Jeopardy! fame, has a funny take on bucket lists. In his book 100 Places to See After You Die: A Travel Guide to the Afterlife (3), he suggests making an “Afterlife Bucket List.” Why not? Eternity is long. His list includes destinations like Valhalla, Nirvana, Dante’s Inferno, The Field of Dreams (from the movie), and the Good Place (from TV)—no passport required.
So, what about you? Did you ever have a bucket list? Has it changed over the years?
And if you could pick your “afterlife itinerary,” what would it be?
References
The Allure of Bucket Lists, CBS News Sunday Morning, August 10, 2025
Ken Jennings, 100 Places to See After You Die: A Travel Guide to the Afterlife, Simon & Schuester, June 20, 2023 (the Kindle version is on sale right now for $1.99 on Amazon - use the link)
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