The united traders of america

I've been writing this blog for almost 20 months. According to child development experts, your average 20-month-old is just beginning to be able to run. He or she probably can climb stairs by himself/herself, too.

So it sounds like my little blog is finally getting its legs!

But one thing the blog knew how to do from the beginning was trade. I completed my first blog trade about one month after beginning Night Owl Cards, and I haven't stopped since. I don't know how many trades I've completed, but it's definitely hit triple figures.

There are plenty of other bloggers who trade more often, who have more cards, who have better cards, who spend more cash on cards. But I highly doubt that there is one blogger who enjoys the card collecting hobby or cards more than I do. I like the hobby so much that I want everyone else to enjoy it. And the only way I know to get others to enjoy it, besides writing about it, is by trading cards and sharing the joy.

So I agree to as many trades as I can, even though I probably should rein it in a little.

I've always wanted to create a map showing where I've sent cards during my little blog transactions. So here is the map. I have traded with residents of all of the states colored in blue. That's 30 states so far.

That's pretty good, but obviously I have a little work to do.

First of all, how is it possible that I haven't traded with anyone in Virginia? There's got to be a Nationals fan somewhere.

Secondly, I think that big white area in the mountainous region of the U.S. backs my theory that there are precious few Rockies collectors online. I am still very distressed by this. How am I ever going to get rid of my countless Todd Helton cards with almost no penetration in the Mountain Time Zone?

That aside, I'd like to thank all of the folks with whom I have transacted, both in the United States and the great countries of Canada, England and Australia. The night owl says it's been a hoot.

Hopefully by this time next year, a few more of these states will be blue. I don't want to have a single Mountain Man Helton card left by next May.