The "ME" Year

So, I am finally back from my month on the road, home in my snug little flat in one of the nicer southern suburbs of Athens. The season is over, for me, at least, and I'm ready, as ready as I can be, to finally take this show on the road... Let the "ME" year begin!

The last couple of weeks have been, surprisingly, very productive (if productive is the right word to use here). I have actually managed to move on with both the "going on 30" and "ultimate" bucket lists, taking giant leaps and small steps at once, and life is goooooood.

First and foremost, the complicated relationship situation is finally resolved (although it actually resolved itself, in a way). I am single now, and all better for it. After three years of giving and giving (or, more accurate, giving up and giving up pieces of me and my life), the push came to shove and I was dumped...

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not bitter or anything, the moment I found out (turning on Facebook and seeing I'm single, one morning), I felt relieved.

I have been contemplating the future of this relationship for months now, especially since it kept on failing to fulfill one of the most basic and fundamental purposes of pairing up with another fellow primate of the given species (besides procreation): sharing available resources, manpower, abilities and skills in order to increase chance of survival in the hard, cruel and ever changing world we live in.

I have to admit, my feelings are little bruised, since I do feel that I was discarded like an accessory, soon to be replaced by another, more fitting model, but c'est la vie, that's just ego talking.

To be fair, I still feel that I've got enough out of this experience, although not the way I expected. All the numerous small and big lessons, learning a lot about myself along the way, are priceless. This I say without any trace of irony.

As an afterthought, with just a pinch of bitterness, I'll say this. My dear friends, girls and guys alike, beware an insecure man! 

On a side note, referring to my ultimate bucket list, I have shaved my head, the very first time in my life and I love it. Of course, when I saw myself in the mirror right after, I realized I might resemble a concentration camp survivor, but hell, now I'm used to it, ladies and gentlemen, I'm HOT ;)

You can see that at least my ego didn't shrink...

The Ultimate List

The Ultimate List is a list of all the things I'd like to do before I end up 6 feet under, not only of those I'd like to do before the big 30. No need for further explanation, I think ;) So, one deep breath.... and here we go....

I'd like to:

• swim with dolphins
• own a house with inner courtyard
• go on safari
• see wild lemurs on Madagascar
• with my own hands help any of the primate-protecting organizations or sanctuaries
• make a connection with an elephant
• make a difference
• do some volunteer work in Africa or Asia
• visit the place where my great grandfather had his 90th birthday party
• see my grandma before she passes away
• get to meet my biological father and my half sister and half brother
• spend a night camping by myself in a real wilderness
• create my own flying device and enter the Redbull competition
• make my family and people I care about to feel loved by me (I hope they do anyway, but still...)
• go surfing to Hawaii
• be really fit (I'm talking six pack and 5% of body fat)
• visit Gerard Durrell's zoo
• see Cher (best case scenario: performing) 
• meet Eithne P. Ní Bhraonáin
• go scuba diving in any kind of borderline dangerous settings (sharks, shipwrecks etc.)
• see Stonehenge
• visit the Pyramids
• set my foot on all 7 continents
• publish at least one successful novel
• see penguins in their natural environment
• get a metal detector and find something cool
• shoot a revolver
• create something extraordinary out of precious metals and stones
• grow chesthair :D
• make sure I get cremated and a diamond is made from my ashes
• give a chance to someone who wouldn't have it otherwise
• have a study made of have heavy old wood and a bookcase/library with a ladder
• build a pond
• build a garden, plant some trees and make it all look like a piece of deep woods just landed on my backyard
• take a road trip of USA - east to west coast
• fly in a hot air balloon
• do skydiving
• participate in development of a 3D rpg or mmorpg game
• eat in a classy restaurant all by myself
• go to movies on my own and have a great time
• touch a whale
• cross the polar circle
• see the northern lights
• be in Rio de Janeiro for the Carnival (and go wild)
  
• go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans
• shave my head
• get a tattoo
• visit a Buddhist temple
• go a whole month without watching TV, using computer or a cellphone
• milk a cow

As far as bucket lists go, it's still not very long, but hey, it's just the beginning. Check The Ultimate List section often, since I intend on expanding it all the time. If you have any suggestions, let me know! If you have a bucket list on your own, feel free to leave a link in comments ;)