Both Halves Of 2024

I’m sure everyone got their magical email from HQ telling them about their caching statistics for the year’s top half. Oddly enough, it hipped me to something I hadn’t thought of previously. I’m a bit of a numbers person, so I’m already into my statistics thanks to Project-GC, but I didn’t even know how many caches I had found (1,060) or how many events I had attended (29) or how many types I had found (12) because, well, I don’t bother tracking that stuff anymore. I still remember when going out for a day and picking up 10 caches would substantially affect my numbers. Now, it barely even registers personally, much less statistically. Finding 12 types in six months means little when I’ve already managed 11 in one day. I see all those gemstone badges I have and know that past me would have been starstruck and future me will likely scoff at them. What that email really did, however, was make me think about what I’m going to do for the bottom half of the year.

So, what am I gonna do? I’m not entirely sure. I’m obviously planning on doing Lone Star Roundup in October since I am very much looking forward to returning to West Texas. But that realistically means that I won’t be able to attend the final Going Caching. Part of me is sad about that, but then again, how can I really miss something I never had? I won’t be going to GeoCoinFest either. At least not unless a demented millionaire wants to fund my travels, that is. (I am always taking applications, of course!) October is just difficult from a scheduling perspective this year. I’m also hoping to fit in another road trip before the end of the year. No, I don’t have specifics, only wild generalities, but I also realize that if I don’t start getting back out on the road more, the Great Project will take forever. As it now stands, if I finished every remaining county or county equivalent tomorrow, it would take me nine and a half years to post about all of them. That assumes I visit everywhere and keep churning out posts on the same schedule. What the magical HQ email didn’t mention is that I’ve only been to 24 counties this year and only 54 last year. Those numbers ain’t gonna cut it. Man, do I need to get back on the road or what?