200,000

At 12:22 this afternoon, I became only the 5th person to hit 200,000 points on the Trading Card Database! This is a pretty big deal- next year is the Database's 10th anniversary- and only 5 of us now have earned 200,000 points.

You earn points by contributing things to the Database- card front scans are 1 point, back scans are two, checklists are 5, etc.

I took a couple of screencaps to celebrate.

 These last two are my favorites as they have pie charts that show exactly what I've contributed, both in material and in subject matter. Mmm, pie chart.

Honestly, it doesn't get me anything...other than satisfaction of a job well done. Also, it means that I've done my part to make the best card site on the internet (including this one) even better.

When I realized I was closing in on the number I set myself the goal of reaching it before the end of 2016. Mission accomplished!

I have a goal for 2017 of 250,000 points. But if I hit that early in the year, I may bump it to 300,000. I'm trying to set realistic goals for 2017 and also ones that don't require spending any money. So I think I will keep it at 250,000. Actually, thinking about it, even that might not be possible. I've been earning these points since October 2012. It took me more than 5 years to hit 200,000 so I am averaging less than 50,000 a year. If I do, I do, and if not, well, I find the scanning and posting process to be fun, so it's no chore and I'll be doing it anyway so there's absolutely zero stress involved.

This was the card that got me to the magic number, 2000-01 Topps Gold Label #32

5th place all-time contributions is the highest I can ever hope to reach, unless I win the lottery, because the top 4 contributors all have a lot more cards than I do. With the cost of the medicine that I need to keep me alive being as high as it is, my card budget is limited (thus why I have set goals that don't require spending money for next year, partly)