State Update
While I was doing the original series of state posts, somebody (I think butterandjelly) said it was their goal to have visited one state for each year that they were alive, so that they would finish all 50 states by the time they turned 50. This seems eminently reasonable, so how am I doing using that standard? Let's see the graphical breakdown.
I will soon be 35, so if we only count the states (and D.C.) at full credit I am just barely ahead of the mark at 37. This means I have fourteen years to nudge those last fourteen states over into the full credit mark. Here's a map showing all fourteen.
In 2013 I will definitely knock off one and possibly as many as six, most of which are currently on the partial credit list.
- In February, I plan to attend a Super Bowl party in Philadelphia. If I do that, Mike has promised to drive me into Delaware (it's one interstate exit away from his house) for lunch, which would satisfy the "eat a meal" criteria. Admittedly that's a bit of a cheap win, but it's Delaware.
- In March, I've been invited to a wedding in Phoenix, Arizona. Hang out with my fraternity brothers, go to spring training AND knock a state off the list, plus a potential trip to hike in the Grand Canyon? Sign me up.
- This summer, I am contemplating a long baseball road trip to the two major league parks in Missouri (e.g., Cardinals and Royals). From there, a road trip north to Omaha (which my sister says good things about) and then a drive through Iowa with a stop at the Field of Dreams should take care of those two states.
- Much more tentatively, if I visit my sister in Georgia and we road trip we could knock off either Alabama and/or South Carolina, with the latter more tempting.
If I somehow got to all six in one year (doubtful) that would put me at 43 with 15 years to finish off the last seven. One good long northeastern road trip would clear out Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut. I'd have to work hard to find a reason to hit Oklahoma and Arkansas and I would probably have to make a special trip to finish off Idaho. I'd have to make a special trip for Hawaii too, but I suspect that it's a lot easier to think of reasons to go to Hawaii than to Idaho.
And then I can work on Canadian provinces. Or identify the states that got full credit for very short visits and extend them some more. Or really knuckle down and work on Europe! The possibilities are endless.
Create your own visited map of The United States
I will soon be 35, so if we only count the states (and D.C.) at full credit I am just barely ahead of the mark at 37. This means I have fourteen years to nudge those last fourteen states over into the full credit mark. Here's a map showing all fourteen.
In 2013 I will definitely knock off one and possibly as many as six, most of which are currently on the partial credit list.
- In February, I plan to attend a Super Bowl party in Philadelphia. If I do that, Mike has promised to drive me into Delaware (it's one interstate exit away from his house) for lunch, which would satisfy the "eat a meal" criteria. Admittedly that's a bit of a cheap win, but it's Delaware.
- In March, I've been invited to a wedding in Phoenix, Arizona. Hang out with my fraternity brothers, go to spring training AND knock a state off the list, plus a potential trip to hike in the Grand Canyon? Sign me up.
- This summer, I am contemplating a long baseball road trip to the two major league parks in Missouri (e.g., Cardinals and Royals). From there, a road trip north to Omaha (which my sister says good things about) and then a drive through Iowa with a stop at the Field of Dreams should take care of those two states.
- Much more tentatively, if I visit my sister in Georgia and we road trip we could knock off either Alabama and/or South Carolina, with the latter more tempting.
If I somehow got to all six in one year (doubtful) that would put me at 43 with 15 years to finish off the last seven. One good long northeastern road trip would clear out Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut. I'd have to work hard to find a reason to hit Oklahoma and Arkansas and I would probably have to make a special trip to finish off Idaho. I'd have to make a special trip for Hawaii too, but I suspect that it's a lot easier to think of reasons to go to Hawaii than to Idaho.
And then I can work on Canadian provinces. Or identify the states that got full credit for very short visits and extend them some more. Or really knuckle down and work on Europe! The possibilities are endless.
Create your own visited map of The United States