Name one thing you've done that you don't think anyone else in this forum has done.

[sygazelle]

My town Facebook page has a thread going with title and it's been a lot of fun reading the unusual/unique/rare things people have done in their lives.

I'm not going to start but I'll play along once some forum members have chimed in.

So, what's yours? Name one thing you've done that you don't think anyone else in this forum has done.

[vreihen16]

Attend an Olympics opening ceremony.

[Esteban]

I shook hands with Robert Kennedy in 1968 when he was campaigning for President. It was at the Greek Theatre in L.A. He was standing in the backseat of a convertible car and he was reaching out to the crowds of people and shaking their hands. I worked my way to his car and when I got there I reached up and to my surprise he grabbed my hand and shook it.

[Sneaky Pete]

Flew the Goodyear Airship over the Le Mans 24 hour race at dawn around 1978.

[MoeTE87]

In baseball, threw several no hitters.

[Three Stents]

I don't have anything to add, but I did start this topic in a motorcyle forum

[Bluerooster]

Met Wally Schirra, one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs while I was their on my honeymoon as he was there for a conference. I was just stepping out of a hotel pub, and he was stepping in. Very nice and gracious guy. We had brief chat and that was that.

Fast forward about 30 years and I shared an elevator with John Glenn, also one of the Mercury 7, and a US Senator and Presidential candidate. We were at a hospital where I worked at the time, and we had a nice chat. He said as we got to the main floor of the tower and we both got out that he was stopping at the cafe for a cup of joe and would I join him. I was flabbergasted. His wife Annie was there for an extended visit, and he just wanted to talk and he said I seemed like a great listener. We met every day for about 10 days or so at that cafe at 11 am. Amazing human. He was into his early 90’s then, and his vitality, vigor and bone crushing handshake gives me hope in my golden years.

[MassWholeBimmer]

Shook hands with Ronald Reagan. It was right outside the oval office in the White House. Was around 87 or 88. Only people around were just me, my wife, RR, and a few SS agents. My sister in law used to get invited to decorate the Whitehouse for Christmas. We were decorating the oval office and she sent us out into the hall to get something (baby's breath??). He came down the hall with the SS. Think he was on his way to his California Ranch for Christmas. Funny thing.. I had scissors in my hand.. First thing I did was put them onto the flower cart and step away.. He was very friendly. He shook my hand and said "looking festive"... Walked away..

[maticCRO]

Crashed 2 rental scooters (aprilia 50 ccm) in one week in the summer of 2002 when i was 16🤣
Also, if you are into MMA, you probably know of Mirko CroCop Filipovic, he lived 40m from my high school, and in 2003. my friend and I saw him getting out of the car and going to his Building, we ran, shook his hand and he signed our chemistry books hahaha. Fast forward 10years or so, i played basketball with him because my father and he are both from the same small place in Croatia, dude had bigger legs than anyone i have ever seen Until then, and was super chill, telling jokes...

[Henn28]

Met Muhammad Ali.

I was on deployment back in the mid 90s and we were pierside in Dubai. I had the duty for the day and was in the Ready Room, likely cursing my luck as my buds were all off the boat having fun. A knock on the door and in walks a ship’s company guy and then the man himself, with maybe one assistant if I recall correctly.

The thing I recall most was the man’s presence. He was older and sick with Parkinson’s at that point, but the room had to expand to fit his presence it seemed somehow. Nicest guy in the world. Curious about our jobs, the boat, the Ready Room, and humble too.

Dumb luck he was on a tour of the boat at they stopped by our Ready Room. But it’s better to the lucky than good they say.

Very cool posts here already.

[M_Six]

Hanging from a rope below a Huey at 600ft.

[TimmyTurbos]

^ They don't make em' like they used to. Thanks for your service brother. My FIL is a Nam vet - you guys are tough as nails!

[Shokh]

Fun thing: I paid for WinRAR in 2003

Not fun thing: I escaped an abduction in 1999

[XK4]

Many years ago my wife and I crossed the Atlantic on the Concorde sitting about 4 rows back from Henry Kissinger. Grace Jones was a few rows behind us.

[TimmyTurbos]

Dammmmn! A Concorde flight must have been pretty cool!

[iX nOOky]

Been a passenger in a trainer fighter jet over the Gulf of Mexico. Climbed Kilimanjaro. Ran several 100 mile trail races, including a couple times around Mont Blanc. Polar plunge in Antarctica. Turned down appointment to West Point. I've led a dull life, but I'm sure I'm missing many things.

[sygazelle]

I got to fly in a P-51 Mustang.

[Llarry]

Written a CRITIC intelligence report, which is the highest-priority military message of all and goes to the White House and various intelligence users within several minutes from anywhere in the world.

[jaffles]

Moved my whole life out of the city into the country to be near the wife's parents.

Sold the house in the only place I have ever lived, a city.
Left behind my 25 year old successful business, wife left her 30 year job.
Drew down on the inheritance and bought a nice home on 2.5 acres that was practical to house my family and aging parents.
Bought the inheritance (old family home) to create housing stability for my long renting brother.
Started another business that is almost set and forget and doing very well. I have one staff member, I do little, and its 7 minuities down the road.
Wife got a job she loves 9 minutes down the road.
Re housed my parents in their own detached dwelling 4ft away from where I-family live.
Kids changed school and have space with clean air, nature and have not looked back.
Get to regularly drop in on the wife's aging parents who are great people, and only 10 minutes down the road.

Now live on top of a mountain with a small population in a community that has most of what one needs. Its a beautiful climate, quite, green with a good amount of nature. I'm 20 minutes from the ocean and all that population brings if one needs more than what's 10 minutes down the road.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by jaffles

Moved my whole life out of the city into the country to be near the wife's parents.

Sold the house in the only place I have ever lived, a city.
Left behind my 25 year old successful business, wife left her 30 year job.
Drew down on the inheritance and bought a nice home on 2.5 acres that was practical to house my family and aging parents.
Bought the inheritance (old family home) to create housing stability for my long renting brother.
Started another business that is almost set and forget and doing very well. I have one staff member, I do little, and its 7 minuities down the road.
Wife got a job she loves 9 minutes down the road.
Re housed my parents in their own detached dwelling 4ft away from where I-family live.
Kids changed school and have space with clean air, nature and have not looked back.
Get to regularly drop in on the wife's aging parents who are great people, and only 10 minutes down the road.

Now live on top of a mountain with a small population in a community that has most of what one needs. Its a beautiful climate, quite, green with a good amount of nature. I'm 20 minutes from the ocean and all that population brings if one needs more than what's 10 minutes down the road.

Wifey and I watch this British show called Escape to the Country. It's about folks in the UK moving away from the city or returning from outside the UK and buying homes in rural or less populated counties. The show is sort of formulaic and largely scripted (you hear the same phrases over and over from every prospective buyer), but it's fascinating to see the various housing options in the UK. Some are many centuries old and require ducking through doorways.

Many of the buyers are doing what you did, walking away from a life in the city and starting over. They often want property with additional business opportunities like glamping or a B&B.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by TimmyTurbos

Dammmmn! A Concorde flight must have been pretty cool!

<--- Been there, done that.

As for Henry Kissinger, I've already shared the story about my encounter with his Secret Service team.....

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Wifey and I watch this British show called Escape to the Country. It's about folks in the UK moving away from the city or returning from outside the UK and buying homes in rural or less populated counties. The show is sort of formulaic and largely scripted (you hear the same phrases over and over from every prospective buyer), but it's fascinating to see the various housing options in the UK. Some are many centuries old and require ducking through doorways.

Many of the buyers are doing what you did, walking away from a life in the city and starting over. They often want property with additional business opportunities like glamping or a B&B.

Yes I occasionally watch that, and quite interesting to see housing styles, norms, wants, and acceptances. I giggle when they say look at the view, I see it as just some cleared paddock. It's been interesting hanging around hear though, you Americans are more affluent and opulent than the average down under. Not to say its everyone in the US, or it doesn't happen in Aus, just interesting to see.

Moving out of the city has been one of the best thing I have done, on par with giving up smoking. The who move thing came about from the wife wanting to be near her parents as they head into their 80s. I thought may as well take mine as well. Dad had developing dementia and the existing situation was too much from mum in the old home.