It's been a long time (16 years, actually) since I started this blog. I turned 59 a week ago, and it feels like it's time for a new set of challenges to start before I turn 60. This time, instead of a new thing a week, I am going to try to generate a list of 30 challenges to do over a two-year period from now till the end of my 60th year (December 10, 2025 - December 10, 2027). My list is still in formation, but as I did back in 2010, I'm thinking in terms of categories.
Here's what I have so far:
Creative Challenges:
- Knit a pair mittens
- Make a dried flower wreath from flowers I grow myself
- Take an art class
- Take a non-ballet dance class series
The Intimidating Ones;
- Manage and help do a home improvement project (replacing our back fence)
- Paint a room
- (Re)learn how to change a tire, fix a bike flat and jump start my car
- Take a short course to learn to use spread sheets
- Try skating in hockey skates
Physical Activities:
Skate a solo in a holiday show (December 13, 2025)- Pass another skating test
- Do an international multi-day hike
- Hike or bike the entire Lamoille Valley Rail Trail
- Do the Hero's Welcome Trifecta: Over 'N Back Trek to Knight Island State Park (winter), Canoe or Kayak to Knight Island State Park (summer), and bike to Hero's Welcome from Burlington (spring, summer or fall)
- Canoe or Kayak to an island on Lake Champlain (that is not Knight Island)
- Hike at least ten fire tower hikes in the Adirondacks (contains 27) and Catskills (contains 5)
Just Because:
- Write the book I keep talking about focused on unconventional home co-ownership, In Search of the Missing Middle
- Do a sister weekend with my sisters, Katrinka and Donna
- Enter something in the county fair
- Take a sign language class
- Organize a volunteer meetup for my Cayuga Court neighbors
Repeats from the Original Year of 52 New Things:
- Hike Camel's Hump in all four seasons
- Return to Cadillac Mountain with Siham and Leah
One Month Challenges
- Give up social media for a month
- Get up before 6 am every day
- At least 45 minutes of yoga daily
As with the Year of 52, the list is a living document, so I'm good with starting with these 26 and adding the rest (with possibly a subtraction or two) as things progress. A lot of the challenges on this list are also harder and will take longer than the challenges in the original blog; they might not all happen, but hopefully it will be a good two-year run!
