What do you want to be your greatest achievement?

[{LAW} Gamer_2k4]

Inspired by SadistAtHeart's thread of a similar title, this one will take a slightly different path.  This isn't about what you have done, or even necessarily about your goals for the future.  It's not really even about how you want people to remember you.  And it's most definitely NOT about the fantasies you have that will go forever unrealized.  Instead, this thread is about what you, personally, want to be able to look back on your life someday and say, "Yes, my life is a success because of <THIS THING>."

For example, when I die, I want people to remember various things about me.  I want people who don't know me to say things like, "Yes, he was the one who wrote my favorite book."  I'd like my family to be able to say, "Remember when he used to amaze us with his masterful piano playing?"  I'd like my friends to say, "He was the kind of guy who was always willing to help us out, no matter what the problem was."  I want to have and deserve a preposterously large gravestone.  And yet, none of those things are what I want to be my greatest achievement.

At the end of my life, I want to look back at my kids and grandkids and think, "I did a great job raising them.  They're everything I hoped they would be, and I can rest easy knowing that I'm leaving the world in their hands."  My greatest achievement will be raising kids better than I could ever hope to be.

How about you guys? What to you want to be able to look back at the end of your life and think, "Yes, I DID that!" about?

[jrgp]

 - Porn star
 - Porn website/company owner/camera man
 - Rich computer person, in the likes of zukerberg or gates
 - Own a business making female Linux Tux Penguin blow up dolls, and likewise for FreeBSD's Beastie devil mascot
 - Popular commander of several high profile open source projects. I've already started with Linfo, which is doing quite well
 - Married and had kids with multiple wives during the course of my life, because variety is a good thing
 - Lots of gf's in my 20s
 - Despite the extreme amount of sex I'm going to get, I'll have badassly avoided all the popular STD's
 - A zillion planned kids to continue my awesome last name, as soon as I hit 35. My daughters will be so proud of their family name that they'll force it upon their husbands. Huzzah!
 - et al.

[SadistAtHeart]

It took some pondering, but I got it. I want to travel to every country, take pictures of various people and places, and put them together with some writing. A travel photo-journal, of sorts. Not intended for mass production or sale, but for myself. If it were to spark interest I would have it published, but the creation is what would make me most proud. Not any financial success.

[{LAW} Gamer_2k4]

Oh jrgp.  You've forced me to update the original post because apparently I wasn't clear enough.  See if you can find the added line. =P

[demoniac93]

All I want to know for sure when I die, is that I got to marry a decent woman (Would it be too much to say they're a rare phenom these days?), and raise good kids, who in turn will know how to raise my grandchildren, and make names for themselves in this world.

[jrgp]

Oh jrgp.  You've forced me to update the original post because apparently I wasn't clear enough.  See if you can find the added line. =P

Here's the thing, my fantasies aren't fantasies and they won't be unrealized. I meant every word of what I said and will see to it that it all comes true.

Instead, this thread is about what you, personally, want to be able to look back on your life someday and say, "Yes, my life is a success because of <THIS THING>."

If you want me to be that vague and concise, then so be it:

"Yes, my life has been an epic success because of me leading a successful computer career while managing to give my family enough fathery/husbandly attention."

[iDante]

I would like to find out something new in science and have it published in a peer reviewed journal. I'm learning how to do that now with the power of COLLEGE
If I repeat that enough I figure I'd be pretty happy.

Also I want to backpack in every mountain range, that would be pretty tight.

[Mangled*]

Invent a time machine and rescue Jesus.

No, but in all seriousness... I would like to be successful in a creative field such as music or film or art. I get engrossed in creativity and enjoy entertaining and inspiring others with it. I'm not interested in neither fame nor fortune, I'm interested in just creating things for my own satisfaction, and if others like them too then that is just a bonus.

Equally I'm also fascinated in sciences, admittedly some more than others, particularly physics and astronomy. But I don't see myself becoming a scientist or publishing scientific papers.

At the end of the day I would settle for the simplest legacy of a son or daughter who I could teach and inspire them with the wonders and beauty of the natural world and give them a thirst for knowledge and seek out answers for themselves. As a child I was very fortunate not to have any beliefs pushed upon me at all, I was allowed to be simply what a child should be: a child. So as a loving father I will do the same in turn for my children.

[ds dude]

I want to be a linguist, because I am deeply attracted to foreign languages including English itself. I started learning Japanese at the age of 13 and I am pretty good at it. I'm also taking French and I might stop there, another factor is indulging in the language and I think that English, French, and Japanese will suffice. I, too, like every male here, would like to be a father just like my own father.

When I was young my father opened my eyes and introduced me to reality. I would like to do the same with my child. You can interpret that however you like.

[{LAW} Gamer_2k4]

I, too, like every male here, would like to be a father just like my own father.

Not every male.  Some of us would like to be the father ours weren't.

[n00bface]

I don't want to have any children.

Also, I'd like to be remembered for my adventures.

[SadistAtHeart]

Also I want to backpack in every mountain range, that would be pretty tight.

I'm down for this.

[jrgp]

I, too, like every male here, would like to be a father just like my own father.

Not every male.  Some of us would like to be the father ours weren't.

And yet others would prefer to be a better version of their father.

[Shard]

I, too, like every male here, would like to be a father just like my own father.

Not every male.  Some of us would like to be the father ours weren't.

And yet others would prefer to be a better version of their father.

If I end up like my father, I'd have a mental breakdown. Saying that, I don't want kids anyway(atm).