Some of you may be too young to be thinking along these line but since I've hit my 30's it's something I think about. We all have things we want to accomplish, experience, and see. Here's a few on my list.

1. I want to take my wife on a trip to Italy.....only us.

2. In addition to my own biological children, I would like to adopt another child. It's something I've been close to doing before, but it didn't work out.

3. I want to go snow skiing! Can you believe I've never been? I may actually be doing this one in northern Japan in the next few weeks.

4. I want to speak another language besides English fluently! I'm working hard on that one right now.

5. I want to be able to give my parents a large financial gift because they've always been there for me.

These are some and I'm in the process of putting others down on paper. What about the rest of you? What are some of your goals and dreams?

Tod, do you mind my asking why you live in Osaka? You don't have to answer if you don't like, but you mentioned you only speak English fluently, and I know you're from the mid-west since you mentioned flying back home over break. How does a guy from the mid-west end up with his family in Japan?

If you do ever go to Italy...I'll drop you some notes on special things you can do...though I should warn you while interesting, they're probably not that romantic. But I know plenty of romantic suggestions too, especially go sit in the main square in Siena on a warm night, and there is a wine festival in the Republic of San Marino with an entire procession and celebrations that convene in the central sqaure and wine starts flowing from the main fountain. You will get grapes chucked at the back of your head I promise, but its still very fun. Any of the smaller medieval towns like Cortona, Assissi, San Gimiagno, and Montalicino are so beautiful and yes even the non-sentimentalist me will admit they are romantic. Anywho...

What I want to do before I'm dead? So much I don't know where to begin, but I will agree with your last statement about giving back to parents. I learn more and more about how having children can change someone's life decisions in irreversable ways. They really went through alot, I hope some day I can rpovide back more than just the minimum. I'd want to set them up somewhere very nice and provide for everything....

I'll think of more soon....

Dolce, I teach in a friend's private language school here in Osaka. I also teach English conversation classes for the local city government. My wife is a teacher in an international school. And yes, I am definately an American, originally from Oklahoma, though I've tried to travel as much as possible in my life.

Thanks for the traveling tips! I love Italy and hope to visit again sometime soon. By the way, did you ever watch Under The Tuscan Sun?

I want to touch a Great White shark. That's the main reason I'm going to South Africa.

I should have named this 'things to do RIGHT BEFORE YOU DIE!'

I've been on a bit of global tear over the past few years. I always thought I would be dead by 30, so I think deep down, I'm trying to achieve it.

After South Africa, I would like to make a trip down to the Amazon. Take a photo of me holding an anaconda.

I aim to ... before i die:

1. Meet Sylvester Stallone.
2. Visit....Italy, Japan, Greece & Africa.
3. Get married.
4. Have a child, maybe more.
5. Direct a film.

Well, sex would be nice. I suppose I should do that at least once.

Go to London.

seriously injure a hippy with my car.

I agree

bang a supermodel

Things I plan to do before Atoddr dies:

Visit Australia.
Visit Italy
Get run over by a redneck.

Oh hey, mine and Rusty's coincide, we can help each other out.

Term just verified my 6th point.. :wink:

*edited*

Now that I look this over, fuck you archie.

lol I hope you have plenty of time to accomplish those things!