What do you regret not ever doing? UPDATE

C

Coop

Blackhawk
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Jan 24, 2001
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607
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Mt. Lebanon, PA USA
The recent topic on "old age" got me to thinking about my life's journey.

Being a member here and reading beaucoup posts of RF members life experiences shared here, I took the time to reflect on what I did not do in my life.

I truly regret I never served in the military. For whatever the reasons, military service (except for AFROTC in college) never even came close to me.

I see the brotherhood of active military soldiers and military veterans, and how that brotherhood permeates our society and our lives.

What do you regret not ever doing?????
 
My bucket list is pretty well completed. There are two things I regret not doing. One was sailing my 25' Pacific Seacraft to Hawaii from Monterey CA. I got the boat from Ketchikan, AK to Monterey and set sail for Hawaii. Two days out the shaft log cracked causing a minor leak but not something you'd want on a long voyage. Returned to Monterey and shipped the boat back to Tacoma for repairs and sailed back to Ketchikan the next summer. I still regret failing on the attempt.
The only other regret I have is that in 1964 I was working in Alsaka for the FAA when I was drafted. My regret is that I was sent back to Alaska after basic and did my service at Ft. Richardson and Ft. Wainwright. 'Nam hadn't heated up much yet in '1966 when my ETS came up. Somehow I still fee like a shirker having not served there. Kinda like I got a free ride when so many didn't.
 
While it would have been work related, I think I would had personal satisfaction If I could have performed maintenance for the few boiling water reactor’s mechanical pressure regulators prior to the verbatim procedure compliance environment (at the level I did for feed water speed control)
 
Not finishing graduate school.
Turning down a couple of fantastic job offers.
Turning down not one but two free homes.
 
I'm right there with you about military service Jack. Although I did take it a bit further. I went down to the induction center. This was when you could pick your MOS. The last thing two of my brothers that had served said before I left that morning was DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING that says infantry. I spent over 6 hours with three different guys trying to find a MOS I would accept. My primary choice was something with audio engineering, they kept offering video. Then they'd move onto xxx or yyy and while some sounded really interesting they all required some type of clearance/background check. That meant I had to go in as infantry until I got my clearance. So from 6am to almost 5 pm they had their chance and couldn't make a go of it. The very next day the Navy called and I was still a little PO'd so I told them to bag it. I wish they had called first.

I do have a couple things I regret doing.....
 
I agree with the previous two posts, in that my NUMERO UNO regret is not serving in the military.
Had been a vol. firefighter since age 16, had a lot of training, and wanted to serve in that capacity. I signed up for my physical with the USAF, and came home to tell my dad. Dad was a WW II vet, post commander of the local VFW, and the kind of patriotic guy who would run Old Glory up the flagpole every morning before leaving for work. Always seeking the approval of my dad, I thought the Ol' Man would be button-bustin' proud of his boy. Instead, I got, "What the he** did you do something that stupid for, you dumb-a**!!!" Well, to say I was crushed would be an understatement of immense proportions :cry:. I never followed through with it, and will regret it until my dying day. I feel like I let down my Country and all my ancestors who had served.

Jeff
 
I met the best looking girl in high school year's afterward and she asked me why in he hell I never asked her out. ( I couldn't get the knots out of my tongue!)

wunbe
 
I can't say I have many regrets. I thought about the Navy, but my parents said try college first. Then close to graduation time, the Navy said they didn't need me...too many people at that time or something. My grades were very good so not sure what. Anyway, I joined the Peace Corps. Not the military, but I still feel like I did my part to serve the country.

But otherwise, no, I can't think of any missed opportunities or big regrets.
 
We used to call things like this "goals" not bucket lists. I set goals in my life & I reached them. I always had the smarts to be able to say to myself; "I'm glad I did" instead of "I wish I had." My ex-wife couldn't understand me when I'd plan something & then do it. She would say; "We need to save the money. Why don't you save the money & when we retire we can do all kinds of things?"
My reply to her was; "There is no guarantee we'll live until we retire, and then we may not be able to do some of these things physically if we do."
So, my goals were met.

But,, things I WISH I had done,,, well, there are a few ladies I wish I had asked out or pursued a bit harder when I was single.
 
That is a very difficult question to answer. I had to spend a while thinking about this. I honestly cannot single out one specific thing. There are a couple things that do come to mind. First, I regret never having seen combat, but each time I tried to get a transfer to Nam I was told that I was already trained, on a Nike Hercules site, as a radar mechanic and they didn't need any in Nam. I regret never having finished college (major was Military Science). However had I finished, everything that has happened since probably wouldn't have, so I wouldn't want that. There are a couple other things that come to mind but I just cannot say ONE thing is my biggest regret. Shucks, I even had "NO REGRETS" painted on the side of one of my AH-1s that I crewed man years ago.
 
1. Riding on the back of a horse.*
2. Riding a motorcycle
3. Skydiving
4. Running with the bulls at Pamplona
5. Getting a pilot's license

*Have driven many horses. Just never rode one with a saddle.
 
Not learning Spanish.

I'm a Facilities Manager and have had more than a couple Hispanic folks that worked for me. It would have made communication with them a little easier...or, even for the more devious reason of being able to understand them...

Also, another vote for not serving in the Military. I really think I'd have done well in the Coast Guard.

Kind of made up for it by serving in the Civil Air Patrol (USAF Auxiliary) and am satisfied that some of the cadets I instructed moved on to military service, I believe.

Aqualung
 
I do regret not going to college and getting a better education.

But right now, I wouldn't change a thing. The trials of life have tempered the steel.


Bob Wright
 
I guess I'm the odd man out.
I've purty-much lived a full life and have managed to do everything I really wanted to do. That said though...along the way, I discovered that a few of those things didn't turn out to be what I'd thought they'd be...and looking back, there's also some things I wish I'd done differently.

But hey, that's just life...we learn as we go.

DGW
 
When I was young I wanted to live on a deserted island with a few friends in a commune and live a very minimalist existence, kinda like 'Survivor' but now that I'm older that is not what I look forward to at all. :D
 
I always wanted to hike the entire Appalachian trail have been on a few parts of it but never the entire trail, now at 66 I believe my opportunity is far behind me.
 
There are two things I had the opportunity to do and didn't. I can't tell anyone about them :D .
 
Can only think of two things. Main one was not having any kids. Due to circumstances. Second was not going pro as a boxer. Coaches wanted me to do so, wife didn't. Figured I wasn't going to live with coaches.
 
Two come to mind right off the bat. In no particular order: not meeting Gunslinger Hank and Piper in person. Many long phone conversations with both of these exceptional men, but never face to face. My loss.
 
my life is a carnival of regret. i wouldn't know where to start, and i wouldn't want to bore you guys with my lamentations anyway. AND YET, i'm happy. life is good.
 
I once had a chance to prospect for the Red & White... Bikers will know what that means.

Beyond that, I never was much for setting goals. I kinda let life lead me where it wanted me to go.

In reflection when I get thinking about missed opportunities, I ultimately come to realize that if things hadn't shaken out exactly like they did, I would have missed out on something really terrific that I DID get a chance to do. And whatever is left over pretty much would have wrung me out worse than I am.

I DO wish I'd quit smoking about 40 years earlier... What an utterly stupid thing to do to one's self! lol

Best regards, Pete
 
I'be been blessed with a super life. My only true regrets were not staying in the guard after I was discharged and not marrying Brenda Lea sooner.
 
My biggest regret dates back to August 16, 1969. Instead of going to the Woodstock music festival I got married. :roll: :lol:
 
I did a lot but most of it was sloppy and /or wrong. My past life might be described as getting myself in bad situations and the Lord getting me out of them.
 
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