Up until recently, people used to prepare wills and set their affairs in order before they kicked the bucket. But, thanks to Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, not to mention the tanking economy, NYC residents no longer need to worry about wills and inheritances. There’s nothing left to leave behind anyway. So might as well get ready a Bucket List of places to visit before you go calling on the Pearly gates. A bit morbid, I agree. Like, Totally. But if you were given one week to live and wanted to visit the top 5 places in New York for a last look-see, what would they be? Any and all suggestions are welcome in the comments. Here’s my NYC Bucket List.

1. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York: There are slightly less than three quarters of a million bars of gold worth well above $100 billion in a vault five floors and 80 feet below the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, located at 33 Liberty Street, Manhattan. The 10 foot passageway to the vault is cut through a 90 ton steel cylinder. Photo credit: Heather Cross, About.com Guide for New York City Tavel (gonyc.about.com)

The NY Fed provides free guided tours (course they’re not gonna let you wander around in there by yourself) of the gold vault, trading desk and a multimedia trading exhibit during weekdays. These tours last about an hour and you actually get to see the gold and the tour guide will explain the security measures, the role of the Federal Reserve, the history of the bank and the gold.

If you’ve seen Die Hard III or Mackenna’s Gold, then you know what the NY Fed’s gold vault is doing on this Bucket List. What I’d like to do is just touch one of those bars. Not pocket it. Just rub it and see how it feels and how heavy it is and how it smells. Tell you the truth, I’ve never touched a gold bar before. And I wanna do it and that’s why it’s on the Bucket List.
Info: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Public Information Division, 33 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10045; (212) 720-6130; e-mail: frbnytours@ny.frb.org.

2. Ground Zero: If you thought rubbing a bar of gold was kinky, this one is downright loony. I want to sing a song standing on Ground Zero with a bullhorn. What? It’s a frigging Bucket List. I can write, and do, whatever I want to. Haven’t decided on a song yet, but I welcome your suggestions. I’m gonna do it too. I don’t think I need to explain what Ground Zero is, or where it is, but if you want to learn more , and get current updates about the WTC Memorial, you can visit http://groundzero.nyc.ny.us BTW, do those blue Ground Zero lights reaching for the skies remind of the Bat Signal that Gotham’s Commissioner Gordon used to summon Batman? It sounds more than a bit poignant that those lights are still vainly searching for Batman.

3. Charging Bull on Wall Street: I want to ride the Charging Bull in Bowling Green park near Wall Street. You walk by it everyday, but did you ever think of climbing on to its back and think of the stir that would create? Heck, you could get yourself a front page New York times photo spread, if you managed to get on the bull, held on to its horns and refused to get off. Just think about it. Wouldn’t that be on your Bucket List? Note to Wall Street bankers and investment managers - Rub the bull once a day. Some of that aggression and optimism may rub off on you. I’m telling you, it works. Really.

I’ll continue this Bucket List, if and when I want to, or get around to it. I’m thinking I’ll add the naked cowboy on Times Square to the list. Meantime, have fun. What? You think I’m nuts? So who gives a shit? This is New York.