Art of Noticing Newsletter #163 by Rob Walker:
TAoN No. 163: Insert your own quest!
Some time ago, musing on the appeal of the “every single X” mission — examples: crossing every single bridge in Venice, visiting every single dog run in New York, using every single subway stop in Toronto, etc.¹ — I landed on the idea of visiting every public library in New Orleans.
So I needed to come up with a kind of framework of my own — not quite a checklist, but a sort of prompt-pack that would offer some parameters to my mission. (Later, he calls these "prompt packs" which I love.)
1. Who was this library named after?
2. What does NearbyWiki have to say?
3. Any known geocaches to seek out?
4. How was the actual library?
5. How about a bite?
6. Any plaques on the walk?
7. Notice anything that seemed out of place?
8. What else?
9. Any other surprises? Sidewalk and road construction forced me to walk through about a half-dozen lawns. I wasn’t anticipating that.
10. Hear any birds? Uses
11. Pokemon Go
12. Anything you had to make an effort to see?
13. What was the highlight?
Here are a couple other missions:
“I ♥️ a completist! I want to cross every bridge in Venice (391) & see every church (200) There are 900 churches in Rome I probably got to 1/3 in 16 years.” — Gillian Longworth McGuire
“When I was in 4th grade, I read every Newbery Award-winning book! No idea why I made it my summer project, but the librarians loved it.” — Cassie Gutman [This variety of Every Single X reminds me a little of The Worthy Binge from way back in TAoN No. 59]
“The recent heat wave in NYC has made me want try every flavor at my local gelato spot--which is hard because I already have my favorites! It’s like a tiny adventure every visit now.” — Ximena Vengoechea [For more Ximena wisdom see TAoN No. 82]
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