To all concerned,

There seems to be some frustration and anxiety about our progress. Many have
made pointed comments to the effect: "Start boxing and stop talking!" OK, I
hear that. This is definitely a bit of talk here so if you don't have time
don't read it, but its time I think to put some things in perspective.

Who's to blame?:

I'll take some of the blame for our apparent inability to keep up. I presented
a mapping model last spring that requires the whole country to be full of
letterboxes in order to be filled out. But I'm sure in the best of
circumstances it will be many years before this can be realized. I had no idea
how ambitious this would (appear to) be. Its like "Letterboxing or Bust." I
mean we could have 10,000 letterboxes out there
and it still would not be enough. All of Dartmoor is about the size of Rhode
Island to give you some perspective. Dartmoor has about 32,000 letterboxes as I
understand. I think its going to be a while before we saturate the U.S.
with letterboxes enough for everyone.

[But Rachel, I'm pulling for you and I promise to find your box next time I'm in
Chicago. Be patient...]

Reasonable goals:

It'll be nice to have a few letterboxes within a reasonable drive from most
populated areas -- or the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska if you wish.

Your efforts:

I'll be happy if the efforts continue as they are. I think it has been laudable
that so many of you have taken an interest and contributed your time and
efforts. If anyone goes to Tennessee they will find a very invloved and complex
(orienteering) type of hunt. Becky's clues take you on a lengthy adventure.
Then again, my box at Split Rock Lighthouse in Minnesota can be found in two
minutes by a 10 year old. It takes all kinds you know? The Rock Creek box
(Thom) has somewhat cryptic and cleverly worded clues. This kind of box doesn't
take long to find but it makes you think.

For others in the future:

We have a medium that will require cooperation and willingness of involvement of
countless individuals if the hobby expects to keep growing. Most of them will
know next to nothing about letterboxing at the outset. Some may have never sent
an e-mail message or picked up a carving tool before seeing our site. We will
minimally have to educate people how to make a letterbox and how to send their
clues and images in to those of us who post them to the page. But this will
only be to those who want their own letterbox, not to those who are just
searching.

What is it we are striving for?:

The way I see it there are two separate, but necessary sentiments among our
members. One is the yearning to see the hobby grow both in number of people
involved and in number of letterboxes available to find. The other sentiment is
that we present information to people in a way that makes it easy for them to
learn about letterboxing and to become involved, thereby helping to fulfill the
first sentiment. The recent effort for Kids I think is also a reflection of
these sentiments -- it just more readily admits that it is fun we are after, not
"manifest destiny." I mean this is just a hobby, you know? (See the attached
cartoon)

The way I see it we should not pressure those who have joined us who just want
to watch our progress and perhaps wait for a letterbox to appear on the map
within a reasonable distance from their home. I'm happy to have them on board.
I do think most people will want to have their own box sometime, and the
resources we are providing on our page will prove invaluable to them. But some
will just wait and when boxes appear they will go out to find them. That's OK
too.

2 more Minnesota letterboxes almost ready!:

By the way, I had 2 more boxes ready to go out, but they will be in a flood
plane so not only do I have to anchor them so they don't float away, I will also
have to make sure they're hermetically sealed so they don't become ruined from
moisture. I think the long tall jars are finally going to come in handy. They
seal up tight as a drum. (Look to http://www.pclink.com/elf/resource.htm for
info on the Long Tall Jar) The only thing is you can't have a stamp larger than
2 3/8" because that's the inside diameter of the jar. Luckily both of my stamps
are smaller than that. The jar will be sealed and tied with fish line to a nice
tree or post. I know this may violate the Dartmoor rules because it may involve
an unnatural object (a lamp post perhaps), but so be it. Sometimes you have to
be resourceful.

But I just want to say again that some people will only be seekers of
letterboxes. And that's OK.

Take care all,
Dan'l

Ps. The attached image is a joke.
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