My wish in life is to be able to say that I had seen what the world has to offer (inasmuch as one person can experience these things firsthand) and came to my own conclusions about the reality of the universe.

When asked one’s ambition in life, the most common (and thus, the most banal) answer is ‘travel.’ Ask anyone what they’d do if they came into millions of dollars, and I believe a vast majority of people would say they want to see the world. (Sadly, a vast minority would probably say they would do ‘nothing.’)

The sad truth is that I am in the vast majority. I would also answer, travel.

At different points in my life my itinerary was vastly different. As I grew older my plans became more grandiose. Naturally, as I learned more about the world, I had grander and grander wishes (dreams) about what I wanted to see.

When I knew the world mostly as the United States, my plans mirrored my limited knowledge. As a pre-teen I wanted to see the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, the Great Redwood Forest. None of which I’ve seen, all of which I would still like to.

In high school I became enamored of the Great Pyramids, The Great Wall, the Amazon. Not only were these places farther away and more foreign in every sense of the word, they involved great treks across vast expanses, terrain occasionally so dangerous as to threaten serious injury or death.

Still haven’t been. Still wanna go.

My new dream (I have to buy a lottery ticket on Saturday) is that before each of his first seven birthdays, Jack has been on each of the seven continents.

I have it figured out.

We don’t really have to go anywhere for a year. His first year will contain plenty of pictures of him all over North America.

For his second year, we go to Europe. Maybe go to London, visit cousin Karen. Hit Scandinavia, go to Norway and meet some of Penny’s family. Maybe go to visit my cousin in Spain.

Year three we go to Asia. Check out Japan, maybe a picture at the Great Wall (kill two birds with one stone because that’s been on my list for so long.) We’ll check out a Buddhist temple. I’m not religious (as anyone who knows me can attest to) but it would be a cool experience (and you never know, maybe I’m wrong and Jack is the next Dalai Lama.)

By year four he’ll probably remember a lot from each trip. (I don’t have a lot of memories from before I was four.) Australia. Pictures from that year include Jack with a little outback uniform standing next to a kangaroo, Jack eating a giant barbecued shrimp, and, of course, visiting with his Uncle Stan and Aunt Ida.

Year five will be the African safari trip. While in Africa we go up to Egypt, take a cruise up the Nile, see the Pyramids. (Awesome sunsets!)

For his sixth birthday we all go and visit my mom and dad’s families in Argentina. Jack speaks Spanish (along with his surprisingly advanced English) so getting around will be easy.

The last continent we hit will be Antarctica. Pictures include Jack in a parka on the deck of a ship, Jack throwing a snowball, and the obligatory snapshots near a flock of Emperor Penguins.

If the lottery ticket (in whatever form it may come) that pays for this lifestyle hits big enough, starting at age 8 we hit them all again, and go to some of the spots we missed the first time around. Highlights include Montreal (where we went on our awesome honeymoon), Italy, The Taj Mahal, Great Barrier Reef, Morocco, The Andes and whatever else there is to do in Antarctica.