50 by 50

I have really been remiss in setting goals for myself since my three lovely daughters arrived in my life. My wife just did her 50 goals to accomplish by 50, so I went ahead and figured out my 50. I once had a list a lot longer than this but it got lost in various Palm-related kerfluffles. I also realized through this exercise that I have a lot of goals that I couldn't imagine putting off till 50—they were much more shorter-term. So I'm going to need to write up "in the next year" and "in the next five years" lists and I'll post them here if they're shareable.

1. Start a software company
2. Take my family to Disney World
3. Learn Japanese
4. Renew my vows
5. Skydive (apparently with Sandi)
6. Plant a Japanese garden
7. Own a house boat on Lake Powell
8. Try skiing again
9. Buy a piece (or pieces) of art that I love
10. Write an encyclopedia of Phoenix history
11. Start a regular poker night
12. Write a movie script
13. Develop a hobby with each of the other four Browns
14. Backpack with family
15. Pay for The Girls' college
16. Host a salon
17. Restore a classic Mini
18. Explore Arizona thoroughly
19. Get a patent
20. Drive on the Autobahn
21. Explore and hike the mountains of Phoenix
22. Have no debt besides small mortgage
23. Visit Fallingwater and Taliesin
24. Buy a pink MINI convertible for Sandi
25. Write a book on Phoenix history
26. Write a novel
27. Finish my PhD in history
28. Stay in Glacier National Park
29. Ride a train from St. Paul to Seattle
30. Learn to SCUBA dive
31. Write Whole Ass It
32. Teach my girls to drive
33. Learn to cook
34. Own a jet ski or boat
35. Write a Mac OS X application
36. Help The Girls start a business
37. Further capitalism somehow
38. Hike the Grand Canyon and stay at Phantom Ranch
39. Volunteer at the Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum
40. Visit Ouray, Colorado
41. See Granite Reef Dam
42. Visit Europe
43. Vacation at a tropical paradise
44. Start a non-profit relating to history
45. Learn to play the piano and/or guitar
46. Write a song
47. Try out for an acting role
48. Watch a favorite play
49. Learn to appreciate classical music and jazz
50. Write an article and have it published

Some of them are lofty and ambitious, but why set goals if they're easily attainable. Some of them also rely on a my children's desire to do those things and I will only work on those goals if they are willing and interested in them as well—I'm not in the practice of forcing anything on anyone.

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