Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

I know it’s Monday and Randy’s post is called SATURDAY Night Genealogy Fun, but hey, what’s to say that Monday nights can’t be fun as well?? Not only is it not Saturday, but instead of doing a bucket list, I’m going to do an already bucketed list. Back in 2010 I wrote a post titled, A Bucket List or a Bucketed List?  If you care to read the introduction to that post, I explain why I like the concept of the already bucketed list better. 

So, while I'm cheating in more ways than one, here is Randy's original instructions for us:

Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music, please!): 

Knowing that a "Bucket List" is a wish list of things to do before death:

1) What is on your Genealogy Bucket List? What research locations do you want to visit? Are there genea-people that you want to meet and share with? What do you want to accomplish with your genealogy research? List a minimum of three items - more if you want! 

2) Tell us about it in a blog post of your own (please give me a link in Comments), a comment to this post in Comments, a status line or comment on Facebook, or a Google+ Stream post. 

Think big! Have fun! Life is short - do genealogy first!

Already Bucketed Genealogy List 

Trip to Scotland ~ May, 2007 
My father’s paternal line is 100% Scottish. Both of his paternal grandparents were born in Scotland although they met and married here in the US. For me trips to the ancestral homelands are not about research as much as seeing the places where my ancestors lived. I was able to visit churches they attended and see places they would have seen. Because it wasn’t just a genealogy trip we also visited castles and, of course, saw Loch Ness and did other tourist things – just basically soaking up the Scottish atmosphere.  I can see myself visiting there for a more extended time in the future.

Attend Jamboree ~ June, 2011 
After several years of watching Facebook post and tweets and blog postings by friends, and being

 green with envy, I finally got the opportunity to attend Jamboree in 2011. It was fabulous daah-lings! This was the first time that I got to meet a large number of people who previously were only my friends on Facebook. I felt like I’d know them forever. I was so busy that I only managed one blog post about it. The title, SCGS Jamboree 2011 ~ More Fun Than Christmas!, pretty much sums up my feelings.  I fully intend to go back some day but other things keep getting in the way. For instance this year my oldest niece felt it was more important for me to be at her wedding than to attend Jamboree. I can’t imagine why. But someday I WILL return so maybe this should go on my wish list as well as here.



Attend an FGS conference ~ 2011 in Springfield and 2013 in Ft. Wayne
I had such a fantastic time both years. I feel that FGS really offers things that are beyond just the basics so I learned a lot both years. Both times were also about meeting “old” friends that I’d just never actually met in person. Last year was extra special because I ended up going for the whole week so I could research at the Allen County Public library. I hitched a ride over with Susan Clark so it was genealogy from the minute I got in the car until we got home – wonderful!



Trip to Germany ~ June 2012
This trip was focused on my mother’s side of the family. Both her father and mother have German roots and both families came from the northern part of Germany. We spent time there in all the tiny little places that those ancestors called home.  On her mother's side the trail even led us into Denmark.  I was fortunate enough to have my mom, my sister and my youngest niece along so we also did tourist-y things in the south of Germany.  I'd go back in a heart beat.

Trip to Salt Lake City ~ January, 2013 & January, 2014 [and plans for January, 2015]
What genealogist doesn’t have at least one trip to SLC on their bucket list?? I had wanted to go for years and finally managed it by attending SLIG in 2013. After taking Paula Stuart-Warren’s great class I was hooked and came back the next year and am registered for this year as well. Learning and spending time in the library – a genealogy dream-come-true.

These are just a few of the highlights of my “already bucketed” list. This list could be so much longer.  In the end I managed to obeyed ONE of Randy’s parameters -  to list at least three things.

If I had to put things on a bucket/wish list here's what I'd add:

Trip to Switzerland ~ Oh wait, that’s on horizon this September! It’s a tour based around a particular Swiss surname in my family - Zaugg. [I’m sure friends and family are tired of the Zauggs at this point, but I’m trying to stay focused enough to sort out a few mysteries with them] My other Swiss ancestors were from the same area so it’s going to be awesome.

Attend an NGS conference ~ Fortunately for me the NGS people are thoughtfully conspiring to make this happen in 2015 by holding the conference in my own backyard – St. Charles, MO. I have my hotel reservations so it’s a go as far as I’m concerned.

And finally, I’ll steal from Randy’s list almost word for word ~ Attend every national and regional genealogy conference held during one calendar year. In the process, visit every major regional and national genealogy repository in the same year.

Wow, wouldn’t that be something! Maybe I’ll set aside a special fund and start saving so that when I retire this could be my first year’s activity. We’ll see. 

But regardless of whether I ever get to do that last item, I’m sure that each year my “already bucketed list” will keep growing with the things I’m fortunate enough to be able to do, the ancestral sites I’ll see and most of all the great genea-friends that I’ll meet.