Get yourself a stun gun or pepper spray, and a loud whistle and you're ready, not only for some murderous creep, but for bears as well.

Oh, and maybe a walking stick.

I hadn't heard about the woman who was murdered in Georgia. While it is terrible, I agree that people shouldn't be trying to scare you out of your favorite pastime with it. It's still unlikely to happen to you.

With that said, let's go hiking!

I am pretty much in the same boat as you, with not knowing anyone around here, but have been here over two years and it's past the point of loneliness and frustration and well into the realm of pathetic. Brian is perhaps even more of a recluse than I am.

There are some gorgeous parks around. Let's go check some of them out together! You know I mean it.

Of these on your list, I have done the following (with exceptions) (then again, I'm 52, I've had more time):

• 2. Learn to play tennis.
• 17. Fly a remote/radio-control airplane.
• 18. Visit a tropical rainforest. (Venezuela)
• 20. Build a bird house.
• 22. Collect interesting music. (my collection is eclectic)
• 27. Clean a fish.
• 28. Ride on a sailboat.
• 29. Own some original art.
• 35. Learn CPR.
• 36. Write a letter to the editor.
• 37. Learn to drive stick shift.
• 40. Milk a cow.
• 41. Win a prize running. (won a shoeshine kit for winning a sack race)
• 44. Learn to weave. (used to weave potholders)
• 45. Have a home that welcomes guests.
• 49. Volunteer at an animal shelter. (worked for a vet one summer)
• 50. Watch the sun rise from a mountain top. (also sunset)
• 56. Take a train trip. (15 miles from Newton to Wichita)
• 57. Make a quilt. (helped wife make quilts for Xmas)
• 58. Learn to speak Spanish. (badly)
• 61. Visit every national park. (I'm still working on that one)
• 62. Go snow skiing.
• 63. Go camping at least 3 times a year. (used to, now too spoiled to sleeping indoors)
• 64. Try rowing.
• 73. Go tubing.
• 75. Figure out my ancestors who came to the US.
• 79. Take golf lessons.
• 85. Have a dog and teach it tricks!
• 98. Learn to roll a whitewater kayak.
• 99. Learn swimming strokes.

These I would like to do:

• 1. Hike the Applachian Trail.
• 23. Take ballroom dancing lessons.
• 24. Get my pilot's license.
• 25. Take a cruise.
• 32. Visit each continent.
• 46. See a coral reef.
• 47. Visit the pyramids.
• 52. Visit Stonehenge.
• 97. Visit all 50 states.

Now I understand the emoties in your signature. What a great motivation to get things done! Which of the ones you've accomplished are you most proud of?

Of your list here's what I've happened to get done:

11: I was sent to Homestead AFB after hurricane Andrew. On a rare moment of not working I got to swim with a manatee. It was a very placid moment. They are gentle sea cows.

35: I learned CPR a number of years ago and at a recent safety meeting learned that a lot has changed.

37: Only my current vehicle is an automatic. 8D

38: Does grade/junior/high school and a short stint with a group on an AFB count?

48: Having lived on the gulf coast it would have been impossible for me not to have gone crabbing.

76: I actually can't take credit for it. It was my dad's pond and it didn't have fish in it when I was around.

85: What if it's someone else's dog? I taught Snickers (Chesapeake Bay Retriever) how to climb out of the pool.

That list is awesome. I hope you accomplish each and every one of them, and have a lot more unexpected adventures along the way.

You definitely have the best list. Have you made progress on the making rolls?

I love your list. There's so many things on there that I'd like to do as well! Especially the pilot's license one.

So your profile picture is proof of adventure achievement! So awesome. I have just the smiley to upload in your honor.