Retired, Not Tired: 5 New Goals on My Bucket List
- Karen Herbert
- Jul 2
- 5 min read
One of the best things about retirement is realizing that your bucket list doesn't have to be filled with grand adventures or expensive cruises. Sometimes the most meaningful goals are quirky, personal, and delightfully specific. Like the Internet's Best Karen!
As I look ahead, I've added five new experiences to my retirement bucket list that combine travel, creativity, volunteering, and, of course, food.
1. Attend the Fargo Hot Dish Festival and Discover Downer, Minnesota
This one is a double goal! As a Midwestern girl at heart, I have a deep appreciation casserole culture. So naturally, attending the Fargo Hot Dish Festival in North Dakota has earned a place on my retirement bucket list. There's one drawback - the festival is held in February. Do I brave driving in the snow, or flying to Fargo? Decisions, decisions!
But I don't want to stop there. I also want to venture off the beaten path and visit Downer, Minnesota. (not far from Fargo, in fact) My maiden name is Downer, and I'm curious to find out any history about this namesake town.
Some of the best travel experiences happen when you pull off the highway and see what you find. I'm already following a local diner located in Downer and can't wait to have a meal there., Maybe I'll spot a fascinating historical marker or two. Definitely a good story to tell my Downer relations!
Besides, any trip centered around hot dish sounds like a good life decision.
2. Decorate Rose Parade Floats
Every New Year's Day, I love to watch the Rose Parade on television. In the mid 1980s, I visited my family in Pasadena; we watched in person and then went to view the floats after the parade. The construction of the floats is a marvel of engineering and floral design. Thousands of volunteers help bring those floats to life. The 2027 Rose Parade Theme is "Welcome", and I hope to be welcomed as one of the volunteers.
Since I've always admired the artistry and dedication involved, it would be a dream-come-true to work during "Deco Week," helping attach flowers, seeds, leaves, and other natural materials to the floats. I've found the application process online and plan to submit mine in early July!
It would be a chance to contribute to something beautiful, meet people from all over the country, and experience a beloved tradition from behind the scenes.
3. Knit up My Yarn Stash
Or most of it, anyway. Some hobbies quietly slip away as careers, family responsibilities, and everyday life take center stage. Knitting is one of those hobbies for me. There was a time when I could happily spend an evening with yarn and needles, creating scarves, hats, and gifts for friends and family. Retirement seems like the perfect opportunity to reconnect with that creative side of myself. I have yarn from my European travels, yarn fairs, and specialty shops - time to cast on a new project.
The goal isn't to produce an heirloom —although I do still have that yarn from Shetland to make a traditional shawl. I'll definitely have a keepsake to hand down. My goal is to enjoy the process again and rediscover the satisfaction that comes from making something with my own hands.
4. Make Bagels at Home
I love a good bagel, but I've never attempted making them myself. Retirement is the ideal time to tackle culinary projects that require patience and practice. Making authentic bagels involves mixing, shaping, proofing, boiling, and baking. It is part science experiment, part art form, and completely worth the effort when you pull a tray of golden, chewy bagels from the oven.
It's said that you can't make a good bagel outside of New York city - the water is the key ingredient and cannot be duplicated. But I'm willing to test that in my own kitchen.
5. Visit the St. Karin Ruins on Visby Island
The ruins of St. Karin Church in Visby, Sweden, complete my list, even though I have to admit the chance to visit is not likely to happen. I discovered the existence of St. Karin's during my Scandinavian Capitals cruise in 2025, but unfortunately high winds prevented the ship from docking at Visby Island. My disappointment was keen, and I promised myself I would get there someday.
Built in the 1200s, The church was named after Sankta Karin, or Saint Catherine, of Alexandria, a 4th-century Christian martyr. Now standing roofless, the soaring stone walls are still a stunning monument to medieval architecture. Cathedrals, churches and shrines are favorites of mine. I imagine wandering the cobblestone streets of Visby, exploring the old church walls, and spending an afternoon simply sitting among the ruins, imagining the worshippers praying to St. Karin. For someone who loves travel and all things "Karen", it sounds like the perfect destination.
The Joy of Looking Forward
What I love most about these goals is that they remind me retirement isn't about slowing down. It's about having the freedom to pursue interests that may have been waiting patiently in the background for years.
Maybe I won't accomplish every item on this list. Seeing the ruins of St. Karin doesn't seem likely (but it's still on my list!) Maybe new adventures will replace some of them. But having things to anticipate keeps life interesting.
And if I end up having lunch in Downer, Minnesota, eating hot dish in Fargo, decorating a Rose Parade float, knitting a shawl or two, and pulling homemade bagels from the oven, I'd call that a retirement well spent. If I can add standing in the medieval ruins of St. Karin's, that would be a bonus!
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