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16 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2019 By Sharon Cates, Resident In the movie The Bucket List, Jack Nicholson's character is trying to convince his friend to join him in living his Bucket List. He says, "The years go by fast like smoke through a keyhole." It's not a great metaphor but we get the gist of it. I prefer the title "Wish List" which is less intimidating and can be used at any age. However, if you haven't looked at your list lately, now may be the time to make plans. My husband and I have friends who never seem to be at home. Since they retired, they are truly living their Bucket List. Alvin and Ellen, for lack of a better description, are adventurers. Even before they retired, weekends and vacations were spent hiking, mountain climbing, diving or kayaking. In the wilderness of the Antarctic Peninsula, they kayaked among humpback whales and wall-to-wall glaciers. They camped with penguins on a small island for a week before being picked up by a prearranged Argentine ship. How's that for an adventure? Another journey, relayed by Ellen, pertains to the photo of the walrus. She and Alvin, with kayak in tow, took a restored sailing ship out of Norway to the Svalbord Islands, located half way between Norway and the North Pole. In their kayak, they strayed from the string of other boaters and were followed by a large walrus. Having been told that walruses attack seals as big as their kayak, they turned around and paddled back to the group. On the way back to the ship, the huge animal pushed himself up out of the water as if to block any return. He towered over the men in the lead kayak. The guide tapped it's tusk with his paddle but it rose higher. A Zodiak boat came from the ship and loudly started doing donuts around them, allowing everyone to return to the ship safely. A tourist on the ship was able to get this photo. Not all Bucket Lists are as physically demanding as Alvin and Ellen's but nevertheless, can present problems. My retired friend, Gaille, has a list. Wish number two was to visit family in her home state of Maine and reconnect with old friends there. But first on her list was to ride a horse. The supposedly gentle animal threw her, and she spent 18 days in the hospital. Be careful what you wish for. After the six months of recuperation from multiple injuries, she made the trip to Maine sans wheelchair. Returning to better health, Gaille performed her third wish which was to ride a camel. I am happy to say it went well. I have yet to hear what number four will be. Did you know that you can ride a camel at the Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona? The Dairy is located at the corner of Old Julian Road and west Highway 78. You might want to add that to your Bucket List. Website: https://cameldairy.com Living the Bucket List o o

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