The Last Sunset of 2012 and 10 Simple Outdoor Resolutions

In 2010, my son’s New Year’s Resolution was to: Watch More Sunsets (see the slideshow). He was 8.

With all the posts and lists of “What to Do on New Year’s Eve” — I wanted to offer up our newest family tradition to watch the last sunset of the current year and look forward to 365 new sunsets in the year to come.  Read my post about 3 Spots for Beach and Ocean Sunsets in Orange County, if you need some ideas on where to go.

So, last year, we bundled up and packed ourselves into the car and headed to Ruby’s Shake Shack on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).  Wanna know what we saw when we got there?

Not a sunset!  But we still sat and enjoyed our cocoa (instead of shakes).  And when we left, we were treated to a festive view of the Shack.

The 2nd to the last sunset of 2012 was amazing last night – so I hope tonight is the same. Even if it’s not, we’ll mark the passing of another year together as a family whether in the sunshine or fog.

When you’re thinking of your resolutions for next year, brainstorm some simple things you’d like to do outside as a family.  Here’s some ideas:

10 Simple Outdoor Resolutions

1. Visit a national park
2. Visit a state park
3. Try paddleboarding, sailing, surfing or some other new water sport
4. Hike a new trail
5. Camp in your backyard
6. Keep a bird list (of birds you see in 2013)
7. Keep a nature journal – for kids this can be drawings
8. Dip your toes in new body of water (a new stream, creek, lake, ocean?)
9. Teach your kids a classic game from your childhood: jump rope, frisbee, bocce ball, handball, hopscotch
10. Play catch

Or you can even steal my favorite: “Watch more sunsets.”

Thanks for reading all year long! Happy New Year!