The past number of years have had me thinking about a Bucket List a lot.
Since 12/3, when we began to take care of our 87 year old Uncle Rudy, the list has been again in the forefront of my mind.
My husband, Tom, and I have no children. So, a big part of our bucket list is beginning to take care of the planning part of what happpens when......
I would urge everyone to:
1. become an organ donar......you CAN heal and save lives!
2. create a Power of Attorney and a Living Will, so that everyone knows what you want done, and who will handle it for you, should you be incapicated. Pick someone who is caring, compassionate, and willing to do the work and make the decisions. And, it is work, and it is hard!!
3. If you are a Veteran, get registered with the VA. You never know when or under what circumstances you may need help from your country. There are benefits there .....but no-one tells you about it.
4. Make pre-arrangements. Whether it is for burial, cremation, viewing or no viewing or a grand wake party, Spell out your wishes, buy the burial insurance policy and pay for it yourself, up front!!!! This is the one last thing that you CAN DECIDE, and no-one can fight about it or guess at what you want done. Be sure to include your floral wishes in your pre-arrangements!!
5. Have a will written. If you have one already, review it and update it periodically.
6. Review and adjust periodically your insurance beneficiaries.
7. Make sure that your Power of Attorney and Executor have copies of important papers like your pre-arrangments, POA, Living will and other ownership documents.
8. If you don't have children, like us, consider what you want done with your remaining estate after you and your spouse die......can it do some good in education, scholarships, health care, feeding the poor, etc. A Foundation can be set up that kicks in only when both parties are dead.
9. Keep in a safe place, with knowledge going to your POA, all bank records, income tax forms, deeds to cars, houses, etc. This stuff needs to be accessible -- should not be in a Safety Deposit box!!
10. After you have done all of the above, then go out and do all the fun things that you have always dreamed of doing, but never took the time to do.......ride in a hot air balloon; sail the 7 seas, travel thru Europe, ride the rails across Canada; visit every state in the USA; learn to play golf (why??)...and so on.
If this sounds morbid, I don't mean to be. Just some food for thought!
Blessings & regards to all,
Cheryl
