Bucket list 50 – why do we prepare?

August 31, 2014

I was absolutely thrilled with the mountain retreat Jamie and Kaye (our daughter) have created for their relaxation and retreat. Jamie is an enthusiastic hunter, fisherman, and all around outdoors sort of fellow and he has created his dream high in the mountains with Juniper, scrub oak, and sprinklings of pine in all directions. He has an outdoor throne that looks more like one an emperor would have demanded. I told him the only thing it lacked was a little sliver moon on the door and it would be pure perfection. He has pressure water from a tank he refills as needed, recycles his gray water from sinks, etc. and uses it to “flush” his throne. The fire pit couldn’t be better; with a large clearing, rock lined, and chairs all around. Jean (mom) made the comment that his retreat will be a wonderful place to go when the economy and all earth’s “fixins” go south; to which he replied, “Well, they have been predicting that for fifteen years and it is still nowhere in sight.” The only thing wrong with his comment is the timing. Jamie, it has probably been more like 15,000 years.

I thought about their comments and realized that before we implement plans, we have to determine the ultimate use of the object of our attention. In other words, if we are going to prepare something what are we going to do with whatever it is we are creating? We plan by getting an education or training. We plan by buying or building houses. We plan by selecting, securing, and caring for our family. We plan by delving in the inner-most regions of our mind and finding our spiritual side. We plan for emergencies like losing a job, becoming ill, or end of life experiences. And, mostly we live life in the very best way we can; with the kicker being that most of us do not really plan life. Generally, it just happens as in the saying, “life happens while we are making other plans.”

As I walked around Jamie and Kaye’s retreat, I could see planning in every inch of the place. Entrances and exits were perfect; storage was excellent with a steel twenty foot locked unit; plenty of fuel from natural and other sources, water, and food. Maybe if I live long enough I can craft my life plan after the pattern they have provided. Here is how I think it would look from the vantage point of 71 years. Each person’s would be different by design, but there might be some similarities that can help someone. Here is it:

1.       Decide what is most important to Jean and me. We have a nice home but it keeps us tethered so we can’t go off and explore the world as much as we would like. Perhaps, we need to get a very inexpensive place with space for family to bring tents, rv’s etc and visit when they like. Perhaps, then we would go and spend a couple of months with our Washington family, a couple of months harassing Steve and Marcie down in the swamps of southern Texas (Corpus Christ), the hot months down in Southern Utah, a couple more months at our very inexpensive residence somewhere that has clean air and open spaces, like Levan, Toquerville, Beaver Dam, Santiquin, or ????

2.       Continue to enjoy our young single adult institute missionary service in Pleasant Grove,

3.       Continue to enjoy road trips for two like we did this weekend

4.       Find some projects like mama’s quilting and my remodeling that help us use our bodies, minds, and talents

5.       Find ways to serve family, friends, and strangers  in need.

6.       Go to the temple regularly

7.       Did I say enjoy each other

8.       Try to stay out of reach of hospitals and doctors, pills, and strange remedies

Wow! That was fun.

God bless each and every one that your spirits will remain high, your loves and loyalties will never dim, and that you will leave this earth a better place for having been here.

 

Duane Jacobs, grandfather, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend