🎂 💥 Two Years on the Steem Blockchain! 💥 🎂
Today I am celebrating my two year anniversary on the Steem blockchain! Exactly two years ago today, I decided to "jump in" and establish an online profile here. Prior to making that decision, it was a step I had said would never happen.
That is, I am not now or ever have been on Facebook, Twitter, ?...? and still maintain that I almost certainly never will be.
Since posting my introduction on 14 May 2018, though, it has been an absolutely wonderful experience "in here." I would never have imagined my "journey" through this "virtual world" would involve engaging with others all over the world and what that experience has meant to me.
Nope. Website creator @ arcange moved to H~i~v~e. 😞
(Built on image created by OpenClipart-Vectors on Pixabay)
What I am going to do to mark this occasion is put together a complete picture of what this year has looked like, from the point-of-view of my posting. This post will serve as a key reference for me, from now on. And it will always mean a great deal to me, given what it represents.
Year One - Looking back ...
Before getting into year two, here is a reference to all of the work I put in year one. It highlights the value I have added to the Steem blockchain.
| Lead Image | Title, Link, & Summary |
|---|---|
 |
💥 One Year on the Steem Blockchain! 💥 Part 1 ...
I celebrated my first anniversary by creating a complete picture of what the year had looked like. I built an index of every post and it has served as an invaluable reference ever since. Here are the grouped sections: ● In the beginning ● Observations and Reflections ● Good Business |
|
|
💥 One Year on the Steem Blockchain! 💥 Part 2 ...
In creating my first anniversary post, I managed to break Steem! 😧 I got a dreaded "Exceeds maximum length (65 KB)" error! 😕 So ... Had to break it up. The rest of the sections are listed below: ● Pay-It-Forward Community ● Travelogues ● R2R: "Road to Recovery" Trip |
Here is what I said then, about what those numbers represented, when comparing the value I had added to the Steem blockchain, in my first year:
Hmmm. I wonder what the average number of words are in other Steemian posts? 🤔 What I do know, is that in our PIFC community founder @thedarkhorse has set the minimum number of words in a "quality content" post to be 200. If I was producing posts like that, I would've ended up with 805 posts! 😏
Even raising that standard up and doubling that to an average of 400 words per post, I still would've ended up with 403 posts - more than one per day, 7 days a week. 😉
Well, with that, my first year is "in the bag" and time will tell how I do in my second year! 👋
With that, let's see what I accomplished in my second year ...
Reflections on "Road to Recovery" Trip of a Lifetime
While they took a lot of work, there are no posts I have enjoyed creating on the Steem blockchain more than recreating for my dear readers my "Road to Recovery" trip of a lifetime.
Getting home, I wrote the following posts about what I reflected upon during all of that "windshield time" driving almost 5,000 miles across 8 states:
| Lead Image | Title, Link, & Summary |
|---|---|
 |
2019 SteemitWorldPap travel contest - "Road to Recovery" Trip of a Lifetime! Reflecting on my trip a year later, this contest to begin 2020 inspired me to start creating posts again, after 10 weeks of "getting away" ... ● Favorite Post #1: Mendocino, California ● Favorite Post #2: Catalina State Park |
 |
R2R Reflections: Immense Wealth! Yet, still the "pursuit of more" Thoughts about the American "pursuit of happiness" and the importance of contentment, in an age of a seemingly endless "pursuit of more" ... ● Immense Wealth ● The "Pursuit of More!" |
 |
R2R Reflections: For Such a Time as This ... What I probably thought about more than anything else was our time. While these reflections were focused on my own personal history, I also thought a lot about the time in human history into which I was born. ● Relentless March of Time |
 |
R2R Reflections: "Golden Years" and our Legacy ...
A primary focus of my reflections was on the "next chapter" of our lives - our legacy and the "footprints on the sands of time" we would leave behind. ● "Footprints on the sands of time" |
"Back to Eden" Gardening
In early June 2019, some of the "big picture" concepts I reflected on during my "Road to Recovery" trip "crystallized" in the most unexpected way. These posts cover one of the most inspirational adventures of our lives, beginning with a simple question asked "in here," on a post of @rawutah - "What is a food forest?"
| Lead Image | Title, Link, & Summary |
|---|---|
 |
Reflections: Permaculture, Food Forests, and "Back to Eden!" The response to this question - "What is a "food forest?" And the story behind the life-changing inspiration it has provided to me and my beloved. ● Journey of Discovery ● Life in the Soil ● Nutrition and Abundance |
 |
"Back to Eden" Gardening: Journey Begins with Step One ..." The adventure begins with the first step - making initial decisions and clearing the inevitable first hurdles. ● Initial Decisions and the Inevitable First Hurdles ... |
|
|
"Back to Eden" Gardening: Adventures in Wood Chipping with a Sun Joe!" The work begins in earnest, as we begin learning to use wood chips to reach our "Back to Eden" objectives, before the "snow flies!" ● Mulching with Wood Chips ● Move, Observe, Analyze, Adjust, Repeat ... |
|
|
"Back to Eden" Gardening: Adventures in Composting - Hot & Cold! Deciding we were "all in," on our new venture in life, we next tackled the challenge of learning about composting - both hot and cold! ● "Hot" Composting with a YIMBY! ● "Cold" Composting |
I was in a good "rhythm" writing these gardening posts about all that happened to us in 2019. It was all brought to a screeching halt by the "takeover" by Justin Sun, followed close behind by the crazy new world of COVID-19.
I hope to get back to writing some more of these, as I have really enjoyed putting them together.
COVID-19
Far and away the most consequential event of my lifetime, these posts cover my perspective on what the threat of the coronavirus pandemic truly represents.
| Lead Image | Title, Link, & Summary |
|---|---|
 |
Day 1: COVID-19: Out of the News, Into our Lives at Home ... Summary: With alarming speed, COVID-19, went from the news in China to a pandemic here at home. What are the implications of our response to it? ● Impact at Home ● Question of "Proportionality" |
 |
Day 6: COVID-19: Pandemic Defense and "Helicopter Money" Summary: How many times can a writer use the word unprecedented? Covers trillions of $$$s promised, up to and including "helicopter money!" ● Manna from Heaven ● Off to War! ● "Too big too fail!" Right? |
 |
Day 9: COVID-19: Gathering Storm of Looming Financial "Armageddon" Summary: On Day 9, under a scenario described as a Perfect Storm, covers "unprecedented" consequences of the actions of the "Almighty" State. ● War and "Collateral Damage" ● Personal Impact |
 |
Day 34: COVID-19: "Post-COVID World," Losses Mount, and now "Phase Four?" Summary: With the growing references to a ""new normal" in a "post-COVID" world, looked at the growing consequences of "what we did to ourselves." ● Financial Consequences ● Supply Chain Consequences |
 |
Day 48: COVID-19: Liberty vs. Safety and Security Summary: Of the liberties you have known all of your life, how much of them are you willing to surrender for the promise of safety and security? ● Search for the Truth! ● Losses Continue to Mount ● The "New Normal?" |
Meditations
With inspiration from the creation of the Christian Fellowship Community, by @nextgen622 and faithfully supported by @michealb, I began writing a series of meditation posts. Experts say meditation has a number of health benefits, among other things. These posts capture some of my "quiet time" meditations and reflections.
| Lead Image | Title, Link, & Summary |
|---|---|
 |
Meditations: CityAlight and the Power of Music
Is there any higher form of our creativity than music? Especially when dedicated to our Creator? I invite you to experience this Australian team's music! |
 |
Meditations: "Turn to Me and be Saved, all the Ends of the Earth ..." To what do you cling, in such a time (COVID-19 pandemic) as this? In the midst of the daily increase in despair all around us, in what do you place your hope? In the "Almighty State" and its leaders? Or is there a better option? |
 |
Meditations: Easter and Hope
What is the Easter holiday? What happened in two different gardens - Eden and Gethsemane? What is the difference between conviction and condemnation? This post answers these questions and why they represent the ultimate source of hope. |
 |
Meditations: "Will You Revive Us Again?"
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, nations are bankrupting themselves usurping God's place while proclaiming they are going to "save us." Really? Where should our focus be for "salvation?" Ever heard of revival? Spiritual revival? |
 |
Meditations: "It is Too Small a Thing ...
In the Book of Isaiah, our Sovereign God declares "it is too small a thing" for His Son to be the salvation of Israel only. What does this portion of scripture prophesy about who He is going to be to the rest of us? |
Monthly Highlights and Updates
For most of my professional life, I was required to generate a monthly report. Carrying that experience "in here," I wrote monthly highlight posts almost every month - until I quit writing altogether for a time last Fall ...
Regular features were my "Executive Summary," "Awards and Accomplishments," and "Monthly Highlights" broken out into 👍👍, 👍, 👎, and 👎👎 sections.
| Lead Image | Title, Link, & Summary |
|---|---|
 |
Update, Month 12: 💥 Annual Highlights Edition! 💥 Reviewed Year One accomplishments. Recognized the Steemians having the greatest influence on my first year and gave them SBI gifts, as a show of appreciation. |
 |
Update, Month 13: Slow start to Year 2 ... My usual monthly content and began to track how STEEM consistently "under performs" in the overall crypto market. Recognized Palnet's role in my "journey" ... |
 |
Update, Month 14: 🎣 "Gone fishing ..." 😉 My usual monthly content while noting STEEM "under performing" was getting worse. Bought 500 more STEEM, due to lowest price since 1st investing in August 2017. |
 |
💥 Two Year Anniversary: Investing in Decentralized Blockchain Technology 💥 Two years after my first crypto investment in August 2017, wrote about what I had learned. Covers the early "gut check" on the mental toughness required covered and the role my beloved lifemate played in keeping me going. ● Background ● Early Day Highlights ● 2018 Disaster |
 |
Update, Month 15: 🎣 "Still fishing ..." 😉 My usual monthly content noting STEEM "under performing" for 4 straight months! And losses ... Recognized new Steemian influences on why I was "still here" ... |
 |
Update, Month 16: 🎣 "Fishing Season Almost Over ..." 😉 My usual monthly content noting, in spite of STEEM losses, the role a @steemitblog post played in buying some more. And then participated, for 1st time, in SPUD XI! |
This was the last update post I have written, since shortly after I stopped posting altogether. Due to my general unhappiness with how all of the EIP changes from HF 21 / HF 22 were "playing out" ...
Technical Aides
The "digital asset" class has a significant amount of technical complexity associated with choosing to "jump in" to any personal involvement with it. Given my background as a Business Systems Analyst, from time to time I have written posts about some particular challenge overcome. Which, hopefully, will be of some help to my fellow Steemians.
| Lead Image | Title, Link, & Summary |
|---|---|
 |
Tech Aide: Set-Up of New Ledger Nano X! Covered the details of the "less than optimum" experience I had with setting up my long-awaited "Genesis Block" Ledger Nano X. ● Off to a "Flying Start" ● Setting Up 😊 and ... Bogging Down ... 😞 ● "Engineered to Amaze" Right? 👍 No ... "Gotchas!" 👎 |
 |
Tech Aide: 👌 FIRST Exchange Transaction on Binance DEX! 👍 Having a full service DEX (Decentralized Exchange) seems to be a "Holy Grail" objective of this asset class. This post covers my experience with the Binance DEX and my Ledger securing of access to it. |
 |
Tech Aide: WAX ERC-20 Token Conversion to EOSIO-Based Mainnet Covers my experience with converting my WAX tokens from their old ERC-20 to the new "Mainnet" version. And maintaining my Ledger-back securing of access to it. ● WAX ERC-20 Token Conversion ● Income Opportunity |
 |
Tech Aide: Crypterium (CRPT) Conversion ERC-20 <=> BEP-2 Needing to undo the "boo boo" of using the Binance DEX with CRPT, covers why & what it took to undo this mistake, including using a "swap" tool, for the 1st time. ● Crypterium Swap ERC-20 <=> BEP-2 ● Crypterium Wallet Impressions |
Steem Blockchain
Never deluding myself that my opinion on anything pertaining to the Steem blockchain really mattered, I seldom wrote anything about it. From time to time, I did write posts supporting various initiatives, contests, and proposals.
With the "Valentine Day Surprise" announcement of the purchase of SteemIt Inc. by Justin Sun and the subsequent "back and forth" between the "good" guys and the "bad" guys, a made a notable exception.
| Lead Image | Title, Link, & Summary |
|---|---|
 |
The #SupportHonesty Challenge Challenged to look into to it by another Steemian, I decided to support this initiative and wrote a post explaining why. I also made my pledge and purchased some more STEEM, in a demonstration of good intent. |
 |
Indispensible SteemWorld: Appeal for Support of @steemchiller and SPS Proposal #33 Upon learning of @steemchiller's creation of his first SPS Proposal, given the high regard I had for him & SteemWorld, wrote a post in support of his SPS Proposal #33. |
 |
Reflections: Justin Sun, TRON, and STEEM ... My $0.02 ... After the "Valentine's Day Surprise" of the purchase of SteemIt Inc. by Justin Sun, wrote my first post "calling out" for good, clear and consistent communication. And warning about the consequences of leaving a void! |
 |
SPUD XI - My First SPUD Post! In a foolish "timing is everything" move, chose to execute 1st SPUD power-up of +600 STEEM in the "eye of the storm," after SF 22.2 and before the Sun takeover ... |
 |
Minority Report: Justin Sun, TRON, and our STEEM Blockchain Given the potential impact on my STEEM investment, wrote my "minority report" view of all that had taken place, up to the point in time. ● TLDNR: The ❤ of the Matter ● "Tale of a Takeover" |
 |
Countdown 3, 2, 1 ... Steem / Hive Blockchain Split ... Go to the "Future" ... Shortly before the creation of the Hive blockchain, I learned of the Hive AirDrop Exclusion List. And wrote this post, with 47 minutes to go, about the "future" ... |
Other
A number of the remaining posts have been categories of their own in the past, but I haven't written enough of them lately to justify a separate section. So ... Here they are!
| Lead Image | Title, Link, & Summary |
|---|---|
 |
Blog, 20 May 2019: "Special" Delivery? No ... Good Samaritan story?
A FedEx delivery gone wrong, turns into a very interesting opportunity to reject my first impulse and help someone else, with no idea how it would turn out. ● The rest of the story ... A Good Samaritan story? ● Customer "Service" Today |
 |
Celebrating Good Business! 👌 "Onward and Upward" with PALNet! 👍 With the launch of PALCoin, I was inspired to write a post about this great community, which has had such a positive influence on so many of us. ● My Brief History with @aggroed ● Launch of PALCoin ● Peace, Liberty, and Abundance (PAL) Server on Discord |
 |
Fraud Alert! Libra Online ... After finding out about a considerably more "polished" scam that most, I "sounded the alarm" about this one related to Libra. And took the time to help others know what to look for, in spotting future scams. |
 |
Celebrating Good Business! 👌 Crypterium Wallet 👍 Very impressed with a Crypterium "Press Conference," I wrote a post about my impressions of their new wallet. A lot to like! ● Crypterium "Press Conference" ● GRAM Exchange |
 |
Op-Ed, Investing: Trump to Blame for BTC "Crash" Too? Sparked by comments in an interview with an ex-Trump official, I wrote about a post about the implications and the future of BTC and the crypto asset class. ● Death of Speculation? ● "Halving" of 2020 and Supply and Demand |
 |
Family History and the 2020 Census of the U.S.A. Given my long-standing interest in family history research, took the opportunity to write more about it, with the responsibility to complete the 2020 U.S. census. ● Brief History of the U. S. Census ● 2020 Census of the United States of America |
Executive Summary
So, putting a "wrap" on this ... @roleerob is unapologetically a "numbers guy," dear reader. Closing out my second year on the Steem blockchain, what does the "big picture" look like? What value have I contributed to it?
Okay, short of my original objective of writing a post a week. And, with a second year objective of working on writing shorter posts, looks like I failed ... 😏
Some communities have a standard of 200 words for a "quality content" post. With that average, I would've ended up with 379 posts - more than one per day, 7 days a week. 😉 Even raising that standard up and doubling to an average of 400 words per post, I still would've ended up with 189 posts. Kind of a pointless calculation, though, as that is very unlikely to happen.
It has been a blessing this year, to experience firsthand the efforts of the wonderful @trendthis team created by @joshman. Unlike most communities, they actually are looking for longer, high quality, "epic" posts. It was very encouraging to me and my particular "style" of posting to win two of their awards over the last few months!
Am I just adding value by writing my own posts? And not adding value to the work of others by looking into and commenting on their posts?
The above is from SteemWorld today. The numbers speak for themselves, in answering the question. It actually gets even better, for those of you who have participated in the excellent weekly Curation and Engagement League posts of @abh12345 (which are now on H~i~v~e ...). I normally score high on the length of my comments, in addition to the simple count of them shown above.
Overall, I feel very good about the value I add to the Hive blockchain. With that, my second year is "in the bag." We'll see how it goes, but right now I am not inclined to change my objectives - at least 1 post per week, that is somewhat shorter ... Time will tell how I do in my third year! 👋
Closing
While I have obviously made it to my 2nd anniversary, it is hard to say whether there will be a 3rd given all that has taken place "high over our heads" on the Steem and H~i~v~e blockchains.
Initially my only interest in the Steem blockchain was as an investor. Since electing to "jump in" to engaging, so that I would more clearly understand the user case, I have stopped investing, due to the many issues I see unresolved, with no end in sight.
But, the fascination I have over experiencing all of the drama "play out" remains. A central feature of it being witness to the "human condition" response to the reality there is now only one stakeholder who really matters. In turn, this outcome is based on the "Achilles heel" created by this blockchain's original "ninja-mined stake" ...
There are still people with whom I have developed relationships I value. Some of whom have chosen to focus their primary efforts on the Steem blockchain. And who I still wish to support, in spite of what I have written above.
So ...
For now, I have remained powered up and active on both. If forced to choose, that is not expected to be a difficult decision. I will likely move all of my efforts to the H~i~v~e blockchain.
I’d love to hear any feedback you may be inspired to provide.
Respectfully,
Steemian @roleerob
Posted using SteemPeak and “immutably enshrined” in the Steem blockchain on Thursday, 14 May 2020!
Congratulations on your two year anniversary.
The level of care and formatting you put into your work is breathtaking to me. I appreciate your depth and wisdom.
What I like the most about this post is how you have provided such masterful cataloging to your earlier publications.
I have a feeling I will learn a thing or two from you. I bookmarked this post and will be using it as a reference point for your work.
Have a nice day :)
Up well before 🌄 (here) @futuremind, thank you for providing a nice word of encouragement to get my day off to a flying start! 🙂
And I appreciate you noticing. Most do not. It is just who I am, a poor, dumb engineer who can't help himself ... 😉
Actually, there is remarkably powerful HTML detail which neither of these blockchains allow. You can see it in one of my earlier works (I just left it in ...), where I foolishly invested a great deal of time to create these bookmarks, only to find them inoperative. Upon discovering this, I was uhhh ... "hot!" 😡
It will be interesting to see if "they" ever allow some of these aspects of publishing a "quality content" post to be "liberated." I would have inserted them in this post, if they were available. To help "jump around," in whatever way one might wish ...
Thanks for stopping by! Take care, my new friend. You have a good one as well!
Great Summary and happy 2nd Steemiversary @roleerob!
I really appreciate your quality over quantity style of posting.
The entire situation with Steem/Hive is quite complicated, somehow I'm still checking Steem first the rare times I go through my feed (few posts there are actually worth checking as most of them are mining operations or about the platform itself)
Keep it up!
Thank you kindly @costanza, for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate your pointing this out ...
... as that is what I have always "been about" and it is not likely to change. I simply can't justify the time to write more, but what I do write will hopefully "pass the test" of adding value to these blockchains.
I've been doing that for two years. We'll find out together what the coming year brings. Take care "out there" my friend!