36 Comments

The mission idea is great as a date idea. One year, we visited all the coffee houses in Madison. The next summer, we went to all the county parks. Another year, we did surprise dates, where we would take turns planning a date and keeping it secret so that the other person had no idea what would happen on the date. Other years, we have selected a dating theme like movies and matching meal. We have been dating for ten years because it's fun to have a mission to accomplish together.

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Jun 26Liked by Rob Walker

Love this idea of planning surprise dates for each other, and also making quests. A couple of years ago my husband and I started going on X dates for X years to celebrate our anniversary. We started it when we were coming up on our 15th anniversary. This year it's 17 and we're in the midst of our 17 dates now. We moved to this town in late 2020 so it's helped us do some exploring, being tourists in our own town and the general area. We build the list together with some low-key dates like a bike ride to a wildlife refuge with a picnic, some special meals out, some travel.

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author

What a lovely practice!

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author

These are great ideas, and you're definitely right that they're great as dates!

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Jun 20Liked by Rob Walker

I love ‘yard Marys’!

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founding

Maybe you can look for your books in each library. 😄

And maybe you can talk to the librarians, ask them if there’s anything interesting at the library that most people might not notice.

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author

Haha I never look for my own books! Although I like it when people send pix when they spot one in a store or library -- somehow that's more fun. And interesting thought about quizzing librarians, thanks!

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Love the intentionality of this. Plus it was fun to take a trip down memory lane in NOLA. I lived there from 1986-2001 and I still miss it!

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Jun 20Liked by Rob Walker

Me too

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Jun 21Liked by Rob Walker

Love this whole expedition! One addition I’d love to see—though it’d be a lot of extra trouble— is a mini profile of each library’s resident crank who is there on the daily, hogging all the newspapers!

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author

Ha ha of course -- I love that guy!

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Jun 19Liked by Rob Walker

I loved this! Have you ever read WRITE FOR LIFE by Julia Çameron? She recommends a weekly AUTHORS DATE and this is the perfect description! Thank you. Love the PROMPT PACK idea.

Gotta think about what I might add. (Closest ice cream shop along the way.) Be sure your sins will find you out

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author

I do know Cameron's work, but I had not thought of that connection!

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what A way fun idea! I may try it in my hometown of Austin!

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author

You should!

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Jun 26Liked by Rob Walker

Two years ago I spent several weeks in Denver and visited all the Carnegie Libraries. The small Colorado town I live in has a Carnegie library and it prompted me to learn more. I keep my eyes open to find more in other communities.

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author

Great mission! I did some reading about Carnegie Libraries for a story a while back, super interesting

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I grew up going to the main branch of the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh, PA. I was so impressed by the building and collection, I have made it a point to visit libraries whenever I go somewhere new.

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Jun 25Liked by Rob Walker

Great set of question to make the exploration fun!

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author

Thank you!

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LOVE this idea

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Jun 21Liked by Rob Walker

Such a great idea! I’ll be looking to implement it and find own variations!

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Jun 21Liked by Rob Walker

That was MY library growing up in Gentilly Woods in the 50's. (Sadly the building succumbed to Katrina). Feeding the ducks and exploring books were highlights of my young years.

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Jun 20Liked by Rob Walker

Loved this idea. In Santa Fe the Yard Marys are almost all Guadalupes.

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author

Guadalupe Everywhere! : )

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Jun 21Liked by Rob Walker

One of my Guadalupe photographs won first place the the local newspaper's contest. The rewards of noticing!

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author

Oh that's awesome, congrats!

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Jun 20Liked by Rob Walker

I love this so much! Thank you for the idea

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author

: )

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I usually enjoy your posts. They are informational and make one think. I really don’t appreciate your links to info on a certain subject be biased politically.

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Jun 20Liked by Rob Walker

What are yard Mary’s

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author

Mary statues in yards! Like in the pictures!

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