Today is a work holiday for my wife for the first time in her life as we honor Martin Luther King. More and more companies are now recognizing this day that is observed on the third Monday of January, first established in 1986 three years after Reagan put it into law. Not to rub it in, but for me it’s just another glorious day of retirement.

I consulted my 1,000 Places to see before you Die calendar to find what I’ve been missing out on. Once again, I’m finding that I’ve only visited about 35% of these bucket-list destinations with only maybe 25% of life left to live. After this past week’s visit to the Emergency Room maybe I’m being overly optimistic? Perhaps I need to get on a plane tomorrow. I ripped off pages this week from whale watching in Churut, Argentina; Gravesteen Castle in Ghent, Belgium; the Mile-High Festivals in Telluride, Colorado; Carthage in Tunis, Tunisia; Hong Kong’s Night Market; and Moscow’s Red Square. I have a lot of Russia to see!

I’ve done plenty of whale watching and Colorado skiing to satisfy these needs. I’ve also visited too many castles to necessitate travel to Belgium. At least, I’ve been through the airport and spent time in nearby Amsterdam. I’ve also had a satisfying Hong Kong experience, although my wife has never been there. Finally, I’ve seen my share of Roman and Greek ruins, including the Parthenon, so I’m not rushing off to see Carthage. Today, Brazil and the Amazon River popped up on the calendar to once again prove that I have a whole lot of living yet to do.

I’ll enjoy a bonus day of togetherness with my wife today, and resume my retirement routine tomorrow. The dogs got their “Schnauzerthon” this morning, so a breakfast date is next. It’s back to rain here in Portland again tomorrow (no surprise) and I will visit the doctor for a follow-up on the ER ordeal. A CAT Scan was not on my bucket list, although certainly a new experience. Hopefully, I’ll be back running on the streets by myself again soon. Meanwhile, I’ve had the company of my wife and the treadmill to keep my 3,676 daily run streak intact. Trips to Phoenix and Thailand are approaching quickly.

Travel is all about freedom and today we honor one of the great leaders in this cause. My thoughts are with the family of Martin Luther King and the prospect of equality for all human beings. Enjoy the Holiday!