Narrative Disappointment

Saturday was my seventh geoversary. Today is day 2,557 in a row of finding caches—seven years and two leap days. Normally, these would be things to celebrate and laud. But, for all their significance, they just point out a glaring and painful reality. I went to precisely zero new counties this year. In my defense, real life very much got in the way. But part of it was my choice. I could have gone east more easily than anywhere else, but weather and (fear of) racist sentiment kept that from happening. No matter the reason, the result is the same. For the first time since I started caching, I have a year where I found no new counties. How am I ever going to finish my Great Project if that remains the case? If I’m not going forward, I’m going backward. I’ve already had one friend I had surpassed in county count take the lead back over me.

That said, the year wasn’t an entire bust. I did another interview with Groundspeak over the past year and am currently writing a piece for a geocaching magazine. I’m further along in the edits on my first book (which has been slowed by similar real-life issues) and have started on book number two. And I, along with several other stalwart victims volunteers, have begun planning a Mega in earnest (though more specifically in Taylor, but you get the idea)!

As for the streak, I don’t intend to continue it for another year, but I said the same thing at both the four-, five- and six-year marks, so that statement remains as functionally meaningless as it was the last three years. Whatever happens, happens. But that’s secondary at this point.

I refuse to have another zero-county year again. Unless I’m physically incapable of travel, I must and will go forward. And by now, I feel I have a lot of ground to make up from this past year.