Bucket Lists and Dreams

As a rule it is mainly young people that create bucket lists and dreams. It is normally not something that older people like myself think about. We generally become complacent and settle for a simple life after we reach a certain age.

However, occasionally life throws you a curve ball and changes your perspective, so you find yourself alone and seeking adventure. I must admit that my adventurous spirit although dwindled, is still very much intact.

I wrote this post 18 months ago, and although many things have happened in this period of time, I thought it was worth revisiting my bucket list and dreams for the next coming years.

Finding Myself Suddenly Single

Who would ever have thought that I would be in my mid sixties and finding myself suddenly single? I certainly never saw it coming. This year I finally made things legal and I became divorced, so I feel even more single now.

After my initial “Eat, Pray, Love” moment I came to the conclusion that it was time to put my big girl pants on and make some future plans. It was time to get some excitement back into my life and start to tick some things off my newly created bucket list.

A lot of my friends have been telling me you will find love again and there were some cheeky enough to say “you need a man”. My answer to this was “not likely”. I had only just freed myself from entanglement and discontent with a man, why would I want to rush into a relationship again?

For many women, love on the rebound is the answer to curing their loneliness. However, I feel more and more women are finding that this is not what they want anymore. There is much more to life than getting yourself entangled with another man. I personally feel that travel and enjoying new adventures are the answer.

The Beginning of my Solo Travel Adventures

My first solo trip years ago was to Japan on a media trip. I was definitely out of my comfort zone, but after a few days felt completely at ease. Then I ventured to Bali twice on a women’s only group tour to experience the other side to Bali. This was once again a fantastic experience.

Late in 2023 I travelled to Vietnam for ten days of solitude and rejuvenation, including a few days in the hectic HCM City, followed by eights days of bliss in a 5-star resort in Hoi An. There was a lot of interest in a sixty-something year old woman travelling alone. People continually asked me “where is your husband?”

Early in 2024 I embarked on a week-long cruise with a girlfriend aboard the Queen Elizabeth from Sydney to Tasmania and Melbourne. This reinforced in me my desire to book more experiences and make some future travel plans.

A few months later, I took myself off to Bali on a Women’s Health Retreat, to detox and re-energise myself. It was just what the doctor ordered and I returned home a few kilos lighter with the intention of continuing a healthy lifestyle.

My ex-husband and I had paid a deposit on two European cruises with a group of friends, so I then decided that I should still take this holiday solo because it was a fabulous opportunity to travel with some great company. I then added another two weeks onto the holiday to travel by train through France for ten days prior to catching up with my friends. It meant that I would be away for seven weeks all together, but the thought of this was extremely appealing and exciting.

My Travels in 2025

After all full on year in 2024, I was very unsettled. The townhouse that my ex-husband and I had purchased off the plan was unsold, so I had to find somewhere to live. I spent 4 months in a friend’s apartment whilst they were travelling and then another 6 months living with a friend in her house.

I took myself off to the Australian Open Tennis in Melbourne in January and took the opportunity to visit my elderly Dad in Bendigo. I never felt challenged or alone being in a big city on my own and I certainly enjoyed the tennis sitting by myself. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt over the past couple of years, I know I am comfortable in my own company and don’t worry about being alone. I’ve discovered that you meet more people this way.

In May 2025 I embarked on a month long trip to Italy. I participated inr a 12 day women’s small group tour of Sicily, enjoyed a week exploring Puglia and another week in Naples, Ischia and the Amalfi Coast. Although, this time I mostly had company during my travels, I thoroughly enjoyed my holiday in Italy.

Out of the blue, I was invited on a media trip (famil) to Chongqing in China in November. Naturally, I accepted the offer and travelled solo to meet the rest of the media group. The week was frenetic. We barely rested, but I really enjoyed my time in this region in southwestern China.

Travel Plans for 2026

I have two short holidays booked for early in the new year. One is 10 days in Borneo visiting Sandakan, Manukan Island and seeing wildlife such as pygmy elephants and orangutans. The other is 9 days on a 3 Island Tour of the Philippines visiting Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor.

I haven’t visited either one of these countries previously and although they weren’t on my bucket list, they both appealed to me. Sometimes I think it’s good to be impulsive and book a short holiday to a destination that isn’t too far to travel.

I am also considering a holiday to South Africa to embark on a wildlife safari, taking in Kruger National Park and Victoria Falls. Additionally, I would like to do a road trip on the Garden Route from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town to explore the wild coast of South Africa. This will tick one more item off my bucket list.

My Current Bucket List

When I was married to my husband, he and I not always agreed on holiday destinations. He had travelled extensively overseas when he was young and he made no secret of the fact that Europe didn’t really interest him anymore. He enjoyed cruises, caravan trips in Australia and some Asian travel destinations, so we focused mainly on these types of holidays.

My desire was always to see more of Europe, travel to Africa, South America and maybe do some hiking holidays. My current bucket list looks something like this:

• South Africa, taking in Botswana and Zimbabwee (Victoria Falls).
• Animal Safaris in Tanzania and Kenya.
• Eastern Europe, including Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania.
• South American countries including Peru, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Eucador.
• Greece and Greek Islands cruise.
• Top End of Australia and a cruise along the Kimberley Coast from Darwin to Broome.
• Indonesian Archipelago cruise.
• Morocco tour.
• Skiing in Japan with my family.
• Spain and Portugal.

Why Women are Travelling the World Solo

When women of a certain age find themselves suddenly single it can be very liberating. For some, it is the first time in numerous years that they’ve been able to make decisions autonomously about what they want to do and where they want to go. But it can also be extremely daunting to think that they are all alone and don’t have a travel partner anymore.

In my case, I was always the instigator and organiser of most of our holidays as a married couple. I was the one that came up with holiday ideas and then went about booking them. So it was fairly easy for me to plan a solo holiday.

I have discovered during my travels that many women travel with a girlfriend or join a group tour with other like-minded women. If this makes you feel more secure and comfortable about solo travel then there are plenty of travel companies that conduct group tours all over the world.

I believe that women in their fifties and sixties are now considered as being extremely confident and capable of travelling solo. We are a force to be reckoned with and we are no longer going to be complacent to stay home knitting or going to Bingo once a week!

At the end of the day I think I suffer horribly from Notripophobia – the fear of not travelling or living a life without travel. What are your thoughts?