Things To Do Before You’re 30 Review: Part 1 Reviewed by Someone Over 40

It might seem odd, to have someone over 40 review “Things to Do Before You’re 30” by Jessica Misener but when TN received this title we thought we’d do a double take on this Try-it-out, Get-it-done, Live-it-up List. Having somewhat successfully survived my 30’s I thought I’d look at this bucket list and see what my “experience and wisdom” can lend to this discussion.

I think we all can relate to the freak out that comes from getting older. Whether you’re 29 turning 30 or 39 turning 40, maybe you aren’t where you thought you’d be when you made plans after college. I want to say “Age is just a number” but it doesn’t mean I don’t freak out when I find grey hair close to a birthday. But why not make it more interesting knowing you have something to look forward to because you’re going to fill your years with fun firsts and try-it-outs from books like this.

There are many things in this book that because of where each of us live we might take for granted like seeing the Hollywood sign. If it’s not cloudy, hazy, smoggy, or smoky I can see this every day from work.

Things I Did After 30

There are some amazing ideas in this book and they shouldn’t have an age limit. In fact I did a few of these things for the first time after 30.

In 2008 at the ripe age of 33, I lived in Boston and was able to go to a Red Sox Game and visit Vermont in the Fall. The job I had while in Boston allowed me to travel to Iowa and required me to attend the Iowa State Fair where I got to experience the Butter Cow, cheese curds and fried Oreos. I was over 30 and loved every minute of it.

Obvious Generation Gaps

There are a few things that are obvious generational gaps. Some things just didn’t exist before I was 30. One I chuckled at was “Watch Reality Bites.” This movie came out when I was a Freshman in college and I remember seeing it in the theater. It was pre-cellphone, pre-social media world and the movie had a great soundtrack which to this day takes me back sitting in commons waiting for Western Civ. M-M-M-Myyy Sharona!

Then there is Coachella. The year I turned 30, Coachella was in its 6^th year and Coldplay and Nine Inch Nails were the headliners. Music Festivals can be fun and amazing, just give me the right group of artists and I’m there. A recent study even said that attending a concert can be good for your health. See good for any age.

Bucket List

I have a few dream list of things I want to do. There are so many things that if I had all the money in the world I would do in a heartbeat. One of those stemmed from a love of watching Iron Chef or other Food Network shows. I’m a picky eater. I usually like to stick to what I know I like. I’ll cook and I can be adventurous within reason. I figure if someone is a chef of a fancy restaurant the know what they’re doing right? So, my bucket list item? If I ever have the opportunity for a chef to make me whatever they want me to try, as long as it won’t kill me (food allergies), I’ll eat it, mushrooms, veggies I normally shun, food prepared a way I normally avoid.

In 2014 I got a call from a friend who had to interview a chef for a food profile and needs a +1 to join him for a private tasting menu. Guess who jumped at the chance? The chef prepared a complete tasting menu from appetizers to salads and three main courses and even deserts. To this day, it is still the best meal experience I’ve ever had. The craziest part, it was a Vegan restaurant called Crossroads Kitchen and not once did I miss the meat. Here is the one picture I could find of the amazing Chocolate “mousse.”

The big thing on my bucket list? I want to see the Northern Lights from a Scandinavian country or Iceland but preferably Sweden, where my ancestors are from. A friend of mine who lives Alaska took this picture earlier this month. Alaska is a passport-free way to see the Northern Lights. All I have to do fly to Anchorage, hang out in Homer at Cove Peaks Lodge, then head six hours north to Talkeetna.

Make a bucket list of things to do

There are so many things that I feel anyone could take from this book. I know tons of people over 30 and over 40 who would LOVE to do things like go to music festivals and take full advantage of all of the things out there. I know not everything will appeal to everyone and the book is not a list of I must do all 600 of these things before I’m 30 but it’s a great list for people who are over 30 too. There are quite a few books the author mentions to read that I haven’t heard of or just were never part of what I was in to before that I might add them to my “To Read” shelf.

Do you have any fun bucket list items? Did you do them after 30?

Things to Do Before You’re 30 Comes out today!