My bucket list runneth over—and yet I keep adding to it.

Lately, my hubby has been immersed in a book called Die With Zero.

Well, more accurately, he’s been listening to it on his walks, in the car and any chance he can get. The core idea? To spend less time just surviving and more time being intentional about maximizing life experiences while we still can. That means taking stock of what we truly want to see, do, and learn—and then making it happen while we have the energy, health, and curiosity to enjoy it fully.

Hubby was inspired enough to start jotting down his own bucket list. I’ve had ideas floating around in my head, but I’ve never taken the time to officially write them down. So instead of pulling out a pen, I’m putting fingers to keyboard to start shaping my list—World of Weeks style.

While the list is not yet complete, it is cruise-heavy. Naturally.

✈️ Ireland and Beyond
After a surprising DNA test revealed that I’m mostly Irish (who knew?), I dove into Ancestry.com and traced my roots back to Dublin. From there, my ancestors spread into the Highlands of Scotland and England before crossing the Atlantic. That revelation planted a seed I didn’t know I had: I want to walk the streets of Dublin and explore the U.K. and Scotland. It’s now firmly on the list. It’s also the only trip on the list that is not cruise related.

🛳️ Alaska Cruise
I never had much interest in cruising through cold climates, but story after story from fellow cruisers all echoed the same phrase: “Best cruise ever.” My warm-weather cruise bias took a hit, and now Alaska’s dramatic landscapes and wildlife are calling me. In all honesty, they beckoned hubby and our oldest daughter before I finally climbed aboard, but I’m ready to embark on the Last Frontier.

🛳️ Norwegian Fjords Cruise
The photos alone are breathtaking, and when someone claimed they were even prettier than Alaska, I was sold. Curiosity wins again.

🛳️ Mediterranean Cruise
OPA! The blend of culture, history, food, and sun makes this one a no-brainer.

🛳️ ABC Islands Cruise
We’re booked to sail to Aruba and Curaçao, but there are not many itineraries that include Bonaire. So naturally… it goes on the bucket list.

🛳️ Hawaii Cruise
It wasn’t really on my radar until a friend brought it up. While cruising can limit access to certain activities, we’ve visited Kauai and the idea of island-hopping via cruise sounds intriguing.

🛳️ Singapore & Japan Cruise
Now here’s the curveball—a cruise I’d never considered but now have booked and couldn’t be more excited about. My oldest daughter discovered it, and hubby was immediately interested. It starts in Singapore, travels to Hong Kong, Taiwan and several ports in Japan, ending in Tokyo. We’ll arrive early to explore Singapore, then stay in Tokyo post-cruise before flying home. It wasn’t my plan, but it might be the adventure I’m most looking forward to.

🎨 Creative Bucket List Items
It’s not all about travel—I’ve got some crafty aspirations, too.

• Learn how to quilt. Odd choice for someone who’s never liked sewing, but there’s something appealing about piecing a story together with fabric and stitches.
• Try macrame. I’ve watched videos and it looks like a fun, artsy way to knot my way to home decor. Plus, I could use some additional space for my plants. Hanging them seems like a great option.
• Improve my crochet skills. I’ve got the hooks, yarn, and patterns… just not the pattern comprehension. Joining a local crochet group could be the solution—and it’s officially part of my quest. Bonus – I can take my crocheting with me on my travels.

So there it is: some solid additions to my Die With Zero-inspired bucket list. A celebration of experiences, creativity, and curiosity—ready to be checked off one magical memory at a time.