What is one skill or hobby you've always wanted to learn or explore, but haven't had the chance to yet?

One of the nice things about being well-employed is that it provides you with the resources to more fully explore various opportunities (this is the part of life were money can indeed buy happiness/adventure). While I’m sure that there are many hobbies/skills that others value immensely, I now find myself in the odd position of having more resources than ideas (this is the part of life where “wealth is wasted on the old”). This is not to say that I’m anywhere close to having done it all, I’ve simply done enough to have developed a decent understanding of where age and certain natural tendencies begin to define my limits. For example, one instance of extreme vertigo while flying light aircraft has graphically explained to me why I should not be a general aviation pilot (had I been alone in the air that day, I would have likely been killed). Similarly, certain naturally hazardous attitudes and personality traits strongly mitigate against any ambitions of extending my skydiving or SCUBA interests to base-jumping/wingsuit flying, or more complex and technical diving activities like exploring caves or rebreathers. Similarly, I’ve long ago quit activities like rock and mountain climbing because of related issues. If you want a bit more clarification, when you read about an unfortunate individual that was killed because poor decision making collided with unforeseen circumstances, while you might say “I would have never done anything that stupid”, more often than not I have to honestly admit that I’d have probably done similar (and in many case have indeed done similar multiple times before, but had just been lucky). In retrospect, it’s probably best that I didn’t have the resources to dive-into many inherently hazardous activities when I was younger (and even more reckless)? Anyhow, if you’re young and have resources, it may be wise to develop a habit of approaching certain pastimes with an added “belts and suspenders” approach to safety.

So I guess that the next skill or hobby that I’ll need to explore is retirement (but really haven’t had the chance yet- aside from a brief stint where I failed terribly, and thus procrastinate by continuing to work).

One thing that I’d like to mention, and this really may be the point of your question, is to not underestimate the value of a great relationship (with “the one”), and the whole “family” thing. THIS is the one aspect of my life where I can look back and truly state that I have no regrets and would have done nothing differently if I had it all to do over again (because doing anything different might jeopardize the health and well-being, or very existence, of the people that love and care most about in the world). I cannot say anything similar about any of the other life activities or hobbies that I’ve tried (or even those that I might imagine trying). So if you’re truly looking to find the things that you’ll most treasure and remember throughout your life, maybe you really need look no further than your own family? Having said that, why not shoot for the best of both worlds by taking the spouse and kids (when they get old enough) skydiving? It makes for a pretty memorable family activity (and they’ll all sleep like babies on the drive home).