I am even more surprised that no one [as far as I can tell] has looked for any of the 5 new boxes I planted

I always assume Wanda and Pete have found my unfound boxes--usually I'm right.

Lockport, East Aurora, and Amherst.

Sad indeed. I like making LTCs but what to do with stamps, if not planting them?

We lost all our gatherings! We went from three a year to none. Surely that's not a good thing.

It isn't so much needing frequent finders. But some finders, and also someone else to plant in the area. The boxes we haven't found in the area yet --on average, can't speak to every box--are old, and often missing or broken. [Well, I only search for handmade stamps, so there may be boxes that don''t show on my searches.]

So, it's finders and planters, AND events, that are lacking here.

I do see that New England is still active, and it seems there are more boxer-hikers, there, too.

I think everyones idea on what letterboxing is may be different. Does it really need to be all about the "definition"? Some people like drive-bys and others like the longer hikes. To each their own. As far as gatherings are concerned - I happen to enjoy going to events. I have made some really great friends plus have been to parts of the country that I have never been to before. Not all of us are about the "numbers". Actually, I could care less about the counts or whether they are traditional stamps or event stamps. A stamp is a stamp. They are all carved by individuals who want to share their talent and have put the same amount of time into an event stamp that someone else put into a traditional plant. I can't tell you how many times I have heard at events "I don't do event boxes". That is that persons individual choice and I honestly don't think it needs to be vocalize. I think we get too judgmental about the "hobby" and worry about stuff that should just be left alone. We are all different individuals. We will all never agree on everything. So if you are planting, keep on planting. If you are finding, keep on finding. If you enjoy event stamps , keep collecting them. If you don't like event stamps, keep it to yourself. Just have fun!!!!

but what usually stops me from looking at boxes around LA County is the traffic we endure.

So true. We want to have a whole day of boxing in an area to make suffering the SoCal traffic worthwhile. We’ll get boxes that are 30 minutes away fairly soon, but otherwise, they get put on the “one day” or “if we’re in the area” list.

J (whole portions of LA are on our bucket list)

We lost all our gatherings! We went from three a year to none. Surely that's not a good thing

I didn't say there shouldn't be gatherings.

I'm not sure what you mean by "we" and "none". Do you mean NY events or events you can get to?

Susquehanna Sojourn in Kirkwood, NY is still going strong with it's 11th annual event. I'll be there. And there is a small event in Malone, NY in August. I'll be there also. There are events up and down the east coast....Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont.

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?eventId=3984

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?eventId=4006

I meant western New York

I am, too! Oh, I know … I don't live in New York, but I do have 13 (+3) boxes planted there, and I try to find several and leave one or two each time I visit. Or is it 14 now?
Speaking of maintenance ~ hmmmm. I know a couple that need it.

Come on up to The Star of the North this August for Whodunits Redux. It will be a good time!

but what usually stops me from looking at boxes around LA County is the traffic we endure.

I can relate to that. I have been fighting the hell that is New Jersey traffic a bit lately, going for some older boxes. And I'll also reward myself with a stop at a nearby bakery. Cupcakes *and* the box.

I meant western New York

I don't quite know what to say to that. Boxing is a lot more than events. But if you want to go to one, go to Kirkwood on June, 30th and Malone on August 25th. Both are within driving distance of where you live.

In terms of boxing, planting, finding, events, whatever, I think you also need to take into account that where you live is not the most centrally located area. It's almost Canada.

All areas are not going to remain as active as some others. That's the luck of the draw. Areas that are easier for more people to get to are going to have more boxing. It's just logical that some areas are not going to stay as active as others. That may not be what you want to hear but it's reality.

I like making LTCs but what to do with stamps, if not planting them?

You can carve and donate stamps to events all over the country. Organizers are always asking for stamps. There are a lot trackers listed right now, organizers asking for stamps. You can carve for Live and Breathe.

At most all of the events that I have been to. The event stamp is my most loved stamp. It goes first in my logbook and the stamps that follow in my logbook just really make the event stamp come together.

I am even more surprised that no one [as far as I can tell] has looked for any of the 5 new boxes I planted, which are in 3 different towns. We are having superb boxing weather, so it's not that!

You planted those boxes on May 24th. That's not even a month ago.

Some of the best hands down for me were store bought stamps. Surely not for the stamp but the hike, the view and the places it took us. Don’t always past up the store bought ones. Do research of the area and just enjoy the view.

Oh yeah Wanda and Pete. I always smile when I see their hand drawn siggy in my logbook.

You might have to host an event too. It's a huge undertaking, but I had a blast doing my first one last year and I'm already working towards another this year. If you build it, they usually come.

I guess I should have been alittle more specific about event stamps. I was mainly talking about table tops and HIPS.

I am not boxing as often as I would like but want to get back to it. . Hopefully, I can get my grandson to come with me.
Lunarcy

Yes, every chance I get. I mostly box in CT but we moved last summer to much closer to NY so I've gotten into upstate NY for some boxing as well. I hope to do more of that this summer. :) I try to do it wherever I am, even if it's a drive-by on my way to something else.

Do you remember the last event in WNY? The one where Rich and Lindsay, 6 weeks before their wedding, and me, with a completely useless knee injury, did our damnedest to still pull off the event? We got no help with carving. No help with planting. And nothing but grief about everything from location to clues. So we quit. When the community doesn't support those who are trying, what's the incentive to keep trying?

Sometimes I have done that for sure. Other times they need topics I know nothing about and would not volunteer to carve.

I don't think one needs to know about a "topic" in order to google and find images to choose from. I don't understand that.

But I don't think I've seen topics that specific.....I see topics like....movies, Christmas, Halloween, the state you live in, flowers, postage stamps, winter, road trips, cars, holidays.....etc.....pretty general stuff.

I didn't know that. I am sorry. I remember the timing was difficult [wedding]. I thought the problem that might have discouraged you was a somewhat low turnout. In any case, I know you three did a lot of work those last 2 events, and you made it fun for those attending.

Thanks for the plug for Susquehanna Sojourn! We'd love to see new faces if anyone would like to join us in the Binghamton area for SS11. And of course returning attendees are still very welcome. :-)

Eiryn

The MathCrafters (Knits, Kyrionada, Bookcentric, PeaceLovePiano, and me) are still boxing, in a theoretical sense at least! That is to say, we definitely continue to consider ourselves boxers, though we haven't been out boxing in quite a few months. We have all been extremely busy getting one of our number married off! Now that that's over, we intend to do plenty more boxing around the Capital Region and all points beyond.

You should note that some people may be out boxing, but not active on AQ (such as Wanda and Pete). Several of my group never log finds on AQ, but are nevertheless out there!

When someone reports that I have a full logbook and when I put in a new logbook. I’m always surprised to see all the people (some boxers that are on AQ and some not listed on AQ) that have filled my logbooks. Most don’t list that they have found the letterbox. Mostly always have nice things to say. I would miss these kind notes if I didn’t check on my boxes.

I like to spend time when I am doing my box maintenance to page through the logbooks to see who has been there. Sometimes I get alittle frustrated that finds are not always recorded on AQ especially if it has been some time in between finds and when I go to check on a box it turns out that someone had been there recently. I have also found that in logbooks myself when I find one. I sometimes may overlook a box that hasn't been found in quite awhile, but have been pleasantly surprised when I go for one that has not been found in months or even years and it is still there!! Longest time between finds that I have found was 7 years and the box was still there and doing well!!!!

I found five boxes in the last week, just not in WNY. I'd love to box more, but like so many others, I have responsibilities that interfere with my hobby! I must admit, I mostly do drive-bys because that's what I have time for. I am always talking up LBing, and just today I had a potential newbie friend asking questions about AQ. She had tried to search the Binghamton area and thought there were not that many "current" boxes (I had suggested she look for ones recently 'found' so that as a newbie she and her son wouldn't get discouraged). I said it was probably because people restrict their boxes, which I think is unnecessary and can undermine the effort to get more people interested. She hadn't registered yet, either, so that might also be an issue. But I think she'll join in and I have a feeling she could get really into it! Frankly, even though I wish I had more finders (a box from last year is still unfound/unlogged almost 1 year later), I haven't been noticing a decline. I'm certainly boxing more and more!

Glad to hear that side of the state still has active boxers.