1500 Days to Freedom

Think different and escape the rat race.

Reverse Christmas

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Science Kid

Some of my fondest memories from my childhood were going on school field trips to the great museums of Chicago. We’d jump on a big yellow bus and head to the city for a day of learning. I remember seeing airplanes (Museum of Science and Industry), dinosaurs (Field Museum), planets (Adler Planetarium) and fish (Shedd Aquarium).

Sweet Home Chicago

My family didn’t make it to the city often, so my visits to the museums were few and far between. However, that didn’t keep me from scientific exploration. Some of my favorite toys were a microscope, telescope and an amateur chemistry set. While I never found Halley’s Comet and that chemistry set caused some minor mishaps, I fell in love with science anyway.

In college, I studied biology and chemistry. That led to a stint in pharmacy school. When I figured out that I’d hate working at Walgreens, I dropped out and picked up computers. Life came full circle when I got a job writing code for a medical device and could apply a little bit of that biology knowledge.

And then I had children.

Father-Daughter Chemistry

My daughters and I have been to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science many times:

We even slept over as part of a school field trip:

And when we travel, we visit museums:

OMSI in Portland, Oregon

I want my girls to have the same passion for learning and curiosity about the world that I do. I want them to be thinkers and skeptics. I want them to grow to appreciate science the way I do. It’s not always easy, but good museums certainly help.

Giving Back

How many times have you heard this question:

What do you want for <insert favorite holiday>?

My knee-jerk answer now is always this:

Nothing.

I have everything I need in life. I admit that I’d love a new Tesla Roadster, but that’s probably not gonna happen. Also, that isn’t exactly a “need.”

NOT a need, but if you’d like to give me one, I’d love you forever!

But, telling people that I don’t want anything doesn’t work well either. Well-meaning friends and relatives sometimes feel bad if they can’t do something, so this is what I tell them now:

I practice Reverse Christmas. Instead of receiving a gift, I prefer to give something, usually in the form of a monetary donation to a worthy charity or cause. If you’d like to do something for me, give me happiness by giving money to an organization that needs it. I’d love to hear who you helped out!

This Year’s Gift

At a recent Our Next Life meetup, I met Megan who works in fundraising at the Denver museum. After I met her, I started thinking:

I have extra money. Maybe I can help the museum somehow?

I contacted my new fundraising friend and asked her what I could do to help. She mentioned school-kids get free admission to the museum, but some schools have a hard time paying for the transportation. It only costs $50 to buy enough fuel to get 37 kids to the museum, so I donated $400. My gift will send 296 kids to the museum. I’m also buying $100 worth of gift cards to contribute to my children’s school’s silent auction.

Maybe one of the kids I help will be inspired like I was? Maybe one will see a dinosaur skeleton and become a paleontologist. Or maybe another will see the rocket exhibit and go to Mars in a couple decades. It’s fun to consider the possibilities.

While I can’t give big money away yet like Mr. Money Mustache or Physician on FIRE, it feels good to do what I can.

You?

If you’re interested in making a similar gift to my home museum or another closer to you, I’ve included some links below.

NOTE: These are museums that I’ve personally enjoyed. If you have a museum you’d like me to include, please leave the name in the comments section and I’ll add it.

My home museum: Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Chicago

New York

Buffalo

Philadelphia

Indianapolis

Minnesota

Omaha

Seattle

Portland

Suggestions that aren’t location specific:

Giving Thanks

In my 45 years, I can’t ever remember feeling the division that I feel now in the world. The news consistently sucks.

But if you’re here reading these words, life is probably pretty good for you. No matter how you feel about the state of the current political climate, try to take a step back once in a while and consider the beauty of the world we live in. It’s pretty great.

Join the 10s who have signed up already!

Subscribing will improve your life in incredible ways*.

*Only if your life is pretty bad to begin with.

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Comments

    • This is the truth. Every year my mom gifts us an annual pass. It is easily the most used gift we get every year.

      When I was a teen I volunteered there a lot.

      Reply

  4. Good for you, man! There are so many good causes that can use the money for than you and I can, and I applaud you for sharing the wealth and setting a good example for your daughters and your readers.

    We visited the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago earlier this month; I hadn’t been there in over 20 years. What an amazing place! We spent a day there, but could have spent a week.

    Cheers!
    -PoF

    Reply

  5. we have the world class albright-knox art museum in buffalo. i walk past there with the dog all the time. it’s good to be in a walkable community. mrs. me does fundraising events for local art organizations all the time by donating pieces for auction.

    i gotta agree that everything is so harsh from both sides these days. i miss civility among those who disagree.
    freddy smidlap recently posted…A Harsh Reminder in the Holiday SeasonMy Profile

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  7. I’m like you, Carl. No gifts in the traditional sense. For Hanukkah and my birthday (they occur around the same time of year), my “gift” is I make donations to do-good organizations. For several years it’s been The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Last year I divvied it up between the Global Fund and Southern Poverty Law Center cuz I like seeing Nazis get beat up in court. I like your idea of giving donations that are designed to set the stage for possible inspiration to strike and lives to be changed for the better. Bully for you!

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  8. Reverse Christmas is like Tolkien’s Hobbit birthdays – when it’s your birthday, you give presents away!

    Best wishes to all the 1500’s for the holidays!!!

    Cheers
    Wendy

    Reply

  9. You should try the Children’s Museum in (downtown) Omaha when you visit again during BH meeting. Not sure if your kids will be with you, I bet they would really like it. Also the SAC Museum off interstate 80 near Ashland, NE. Lots of planes and other stuff – love that place! It’s about 30 minute drive from downtown Omaha. They actually restore many of those jets/airplanes there at the museum.

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  10. What a good idea for people that don’t want anything for holidays/birthdays! I’ve seen recently some friends n FB have asked for donations to a favored cause for their birthdays instead of stuff.
    And usually in the obituaries (I’m weird…i read them. Somehow it makes me feel good. Like I want to live a life that will leave a great obit) that ask for no monetary gifts or flowers, and instead ask for donations to a favored charity in their honor be made. Same thing, but when you are still alive!
    Cathleen Cooks Stuff recently posted…The government shut down and why you need an emergency savings fundMy Profile

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  11. I hope we can work our way toward replacing physical gift giving with this! I spent the month of December, and some of November, giving to the Native community of Pine Ridge but I don’t think our families are ready to do that instead of exchanging gifts yet even though I think it would be so neat to give to those who truly don’t have much rather than MOAR STUFF to our already very blessed children. I am hopeful that maybe this will become a norm in the near future.
    Revanche @ A Gai Shan Life recently posted…2018 Goals: How’d we do?My Profile

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