Secret (and Not-So-Secret) Dreams

I've been thinking a lot lately about future goals and dreams. First, some definitions, because that's important to this. I think that a goal is fully achievable based on your current life, so that if you point toward it, you can reasonably achieve it without too much assistance from others or from mere good fortune. Dreams, on the other hand, have as much to do with luck, incredible talent, and/or a leg up from other folks, as your own actual effort. Both of these need to be something you really want, not something you just hope will happen or something you blunder into. So that being said, here are some of my own secret goals and dreams. First, the goals:

1. Moving back to Oklahoma and going to work with my dad -- This is my priority number one and it's totally achievable. In fact, some bad things would actually have to happen against this to keep it from happening. The most important part of this is when, not if. I'm hoping for five years, but it could be ten.
2. Becoming debt-free -- Completely debt-free would be preferred, but only having mortgage and auto debts, and no other credit cards or other debts would be a successful achievement of this goal in my mind.
3. Quitting teaching (or any other "required" second job) forever -- I currently teach because I have to. Teaching entails a lot of other stuff for me, like the DU master's classes. Let's face it: if I didn't need to keep teaching, I wouldn't, and if I didn't need a Master's degree to keep teaching, I wouldn't be in school. I would much rather be more available to my wife and family, and doing things with them, or doing something more interesting for myself, than worrying about my grades and assignments or my lesson plans or my students' level of understanding. I used to enjoy teaching, and I'm still OK with it, but I've been doing it for quite a while and frankly, it's time for that aspect of life to go away.
4. Getting back into umpiring/officiating -- I always loved umpiring and I would love to get back into it. I was pretty darn good at it and I think I could really do well with it again. I would also love to get into football officiating. And these would be more like hobbies that pay, rather than real jobs.
5. Learn to play the mandolin -- Achievable, if I can get time (see Item #3 above).
   

So those are the goals, but what about the dreams?

1. Becoming the radio voice for Oklahoma Sooner football -- Come on, Sooner fans, admit it. Wouldn't you LOVE to have Bob Barry's job? You get to see every game, you get to share your enthusiasm with others, you get to witness all of OU's great moments and possibly even share a small part of that history if one of your calls goes down as part of an epic play or game.
2. Work as an NHL goal judge -- I've wanted this for a while. It's kind of hard to explain if you're not a hockey fan, but you get one of the best seats in the house, you get paid for it (or at least, you don't pay to watch), and you're part of the game.
3. Win the Powerball or Lottery (or even $50,000) -- I know this is the dream of lots of folks, but I don't know of anything positive that could be more life-changing, except for possibly surviving some sort of horrific accident (and that definitely still has its negative aspects). If someone handed you $5 million or $50 million, what would you do? Would you ever work again? Would you invest? Would you become a well-known philanthropist? Would you shoot for your secret dream of being the next radio voice for Oklahoma Sooner football? Money doesn't buy happiness, but it sure can't hurt, and it can remove some nagging worries forever. Even winning a much smaller but still substantial amount, like a year's or half a year's salary, would have immediate positive aspects.

So that's it for me. What are your dreams and goals? Whatever they are, may God help you achieve them.

Thanks for reading along.