I’ve had a semi-interesting issue bouncing around my skull for the last couple of weeks, and I’m at the point where I think a wider audience might help me make a more informed decision. I also feel the need to state that the solution to this problem, whatever it might end up being, will not bring peace to the Middle East; nor shall it decide my future as a cacher, a father, a robber baron, an academic luminary, an author, or an X-ray technician.
When I signed the Texas County Challenge four winters and a thousand years ago, I also signed another challenge that resides with it: the I’ve Been Everywhere Challenge–Texas. You’ve heard Mr. Snow‘s song I’ve Been Everywhere? Probably sung by Mr. Cash? Well, someone made a Texas version. The challenge, then, is to find a cache in or near each of the ninety-one Texas towns and cities mentioned in the song. As you can imagine, it’s a good challenge to do in tandem with the TCC, but it was never on my radar until I signed it. I’ve been thinking about it more recently, though.
Many locations have long since been taken care of—even more than I thought. I have thirty-three left. Several of them are far-flung—one near Lubbock, one near the border down in the Rio Grande Valley, and a couple near Beaumont—but most of them are not that bad. I’ve got a few near San Antonio, half a dozen between here and Houston, another half dozen around Longview, and others a reasonable distance (for me) around the state.
“Where’s the problem?” you might ask. Duncanville. Why? Because it would require me to return to Dallas County. And we all know how I feel about that place. I have long taken pride in having only a single find in one of the most cache-rich locations in the state. But I also don’t have many challenges I can’t (or don’t wish to) complete. One person whose opinion I respect has told me that not going for that reason is like cutting off my nose to spite my face. On the other hand, my stubbornness, dare I say pigheadedness, has served me well. I would not be as well traveled as I am without it.
I rarely seek the opinions of others, but right now, I’m open to them. So now is your chance! Dallas GO or Dallas NO?
Geocaching While Black 
I feel that way about Philadelphia. My last experience there was in September 1986, and was… interesting. I’ll tell you about it sometime if you want. Sooner or later, though, I’m going to want the history-related virtuals and I will just have to bite the bullet and go.
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I haven’t read your blog enough to know why you are not a fan of Dallas County but if its based on principle then compromising your principle for a game is a definite NO. There is always another challenge cache.
The other way would be to go to Dallas County and find the required cache but make sure to make zero economic impact while in the county. No fuel purchase, no meals, no snacks, no shopping. You could even be sure to consume as many county services as possible.
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I feel that way about the entire state of Texas. there are people there who I would like to visit, and I could find a few caches, too. But its Texas and I cannot in good conscience cross the border. How strongly do you feel about that one county?
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The first paragraph of Dallas says it all… https://geocachingwhileblack.com/2020/02/24/254-dallas-dallas-county/
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Do it!
Dealfarms
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Hehehehehehehehehehe! I told you, Dallas doesn’t care if you snub it. I say go and suck the proverbial marrow out of that bish.
RZBG
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Hush, you! I know what you think! 😛
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Nice to see all the comments here agreeing with what I was going to say.
Do it!
(You must have suspected that’s what we would say.)
Linda
SmallStakes
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Another vote for Go!
For me, one of the many great things about geocaching (along with walks in the woods, caching with friends, seeing new places and things, the accomplishment of solving a hard puzzle, meeting interesting people and lots of laughter!) is that there are times when caching has offered me the opportunity to push my boundaries, whether it’s a physical challenge I’m not certain I’m up for or a social gathering that seems a bit too daunting for this introvert (especially early in my caching career, when I didn’t know anyone else at events). I haven’t always chosen to do the thing, but when I have, those experiences have been memorable and meaningful, and I’ve been proud of myself for accomplishing them. Your mileage may vary, of course, but I say take a good friend with you and go.
Happy caching,
Catkin&Golden
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Dallas Go! Happy Caching! There will be other things to enjoy.
Happy Holidays!
~Andrea~
TXCinnamonGirl
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Go! If it means you can’t finish a challenge without it, especially a difficult one, I don’t think it would be a question (for me at least).
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