Palapa, you might have missed a bit of the plan -my money only goes in your wallet if you don't make it. Of course, it's not that far to Palapa Bar - I'd love to buy reaper and I a drink with whatever's in your wallet. oh, and in the event you do make it, you can buy us all a drink. It's a little complicated but I think I've covered all the contingencies.

Klc and Kathy: I'm interested in those stats, if there are any, because I am one of them. I spent several years taking courses at junior college and then transferred to Sonoma State for Jr and Sr year - graduated when I was 25, then became lawyer at 34. My parents hated it - kept saying I was "years behind". LOL. In the meantime, I traveled my butt off (my major passion) - Tahiti, Hawaii, all over Mexico (learned to speak some Spanish, which was a goal of mine), Caribbean, etc. Worked full time, with decent pay as legal secretary during it all, except for the 2 years in college, when my classes were full time and needed the good grades to be accepted to law school. As I sit here today, it is all good, no regrets. My supervisor, mid 40s like me, went to college straight from high school, then law school, so has been practicing 20 years, compared to my 9 years. But, she also has not seen the awesome places I have been. My experiences have been priceless.

Life goals are travel, learn to speak Spanish better, meet a fun guy and possibly re-marry (he better have a passport). Oh, and since I love to cook and think I am pretty good, maybe do a stint as a chef at a resort on a tropical island someday. In the meantime, I am on a 3 week countdown for my vacation to Panama. As you were!

Hey LM - you got it right. I was sort of on the same path - law school was a second career after I took 10 years to complete my BS. I wouldn't trade the travel and work experience during those years for an additional 10 years of law practice any way you slice it.
You are going to be leaving about the time I get there! When will you be home?? (I need to know when to have the tequila ready! )

LM, I am also a late-bloomer. Didn't start a doctoral program until my 40s. BUT, I have had experiences others have not had (good and bad). We share similar goals. I also want to speak Spanish, become a chef, travel as much as time permits, and meet a fun guy ( whose knuckles don't drag the ground). Have fun in Panama! My stats prof leaves for Panama on the 21st to buy a retirement home. Kathy

Find a balance between the things I want to do and the things I need to do, master my areas of amateurish interest and informal study, understand myself, raise chickens, learn to pick locks, find some more female best friends, become a skilled sex object, become pastor at the church of the flying spaghetti monster, learn to tell time, spend less time on the internet.

whatcha gonna do with the chickens?

Law: Back in mid August. Wooo hooooo. Add another to the list: buy a retirement home in the tropics, maybe Panama.

Fairly recently I learned there was a club called the "100" club - those who are members have been to 100 countries. I started to count the countries I've been to - right now it stands at 31. (By the way, a country counts if you just change planes and not even see it). So, I thought a while, looked at my bank account, realized I'm in my early 50's and thought - OK, I don't see making the 100 club but maybe 50 Club?

So that's one of my goals. 50 countries before I die. Working on 2 more for next year (Italy & Cook Islands). Need to get the remainder of the 17 on a list and start checking them off!

Other items on my Life's List:
Take a train trip across the US
Ride on the Space Shuttle
Run a B&B (a real one)then retire somewhere peaceful

It's already been done for us:

http://tinyurl.com/ohrnu

See the great pyramids in Eygpt, see Africa and photograph the wildlife there, go to Greece, Spain, France (again)... basically see the world! Oh and retire as soon as possible!!!!