One note is that I have added my video channel on Rumble.com to my link section. I will explain more on that on some other blog post in a week or two.
What I said a year ago in my "Housekeeping 2023" blog pretty much covers the same ground as I feel right now. Refer to that, but I just want to emphasize again the following because I have had people still asking me something I do not do anymore.
That is, I do not give out GPS coordinates or specific directions to locations anymore.
I'm sorry, but it is not 2006 anymore. For many years I felt okay in doing this, but I do not like what I am seeing. Vandalism, taking things from the land, leaving trash, and just too many people going to what are meant to be isolated areas with limited traffic.
What I have seen this last year, and for about ten years before, is that I will probably be on the losing side on this issue. I have seen official social media accounts encouraging certain behaviors that in the long run I fear are going to cause more harm than good.
One thing hundreds of people have told me over the years and I have seen comments for social media sites is something like, "My family and I have been going to 'X' since 'P'.
X = some location (for example, Yosemite)
P= some date or era (for example, the 1960's)
This is a way people try to establish common ground (no pun intend) with each other. I have done it on this blog several times as a way of letting the reader know that I have the knowledge and experience of the area over the years. A good percentage of what I have talked about on this blog goes back many decades. However, if you were to meet me out in the wild I probably would not mention this unless someone asked.
When people tell me they have been going to a certain area since some date in time I am usually not very impressed, nor I am really snotty about it either. However, if they have some good insights about the area, or explain things that they do to benefit the area then that will impress me a little more.
That is kind of the goal that I have set for this year. I've done this in the past, but I want to make it known publicly as well. Let me state it this way:
What can I do to make the area I spend my time at better than when I got there?
Taking bags with you to pick up trash is a good start. I have done this several times over the years. Lots of things can be said, but many people take what may seem "free" for granted. I am not going to get into property taxes, insurance, and other fees that many of us locals deal with, but maybe donating money to the places you visit helps.
Just some ideas. I am going to come back and again talk about the problems I see with social media in my next blog post.
