Yes, I Know.

It's been almost a year since I last posted. I have nothing to say for myself other than ... life happens.

It had been such a long time since I'd visited my own blog - shameful! - that once here this morning, I took some time to rediscover the BOSS music on my playlist, check out my great grandparents' links, and see how far my 1940 census countdown had progressed. We still have 579 days? (Actually, 578, but April 1, 2012 is on a Sunday, so that's still up in the air.)

Yes. We still have that long to wait. About eighteen more months... but considering how thrilled we all were when 1930 came out (like I even remember that happening, I was hip-deep in four little children) and how long we've already waited, I guess we can go a little longer.

To keep the next one and a half years from dragging on too slowly, one website (which seems to be supported by Ancestry.com) has already outlined a fun preparatory project:

Since you've got so much time, there may be no urgency to this right now, but don't wait until the night before to start getting ready for one of the biggest genealogical events since, well — since April 2002 when the 1930 Census was released.

Start by listing those direct-line ancestors who you have found in the 1930 census and that you know were still living in 1940. While it's possible that they may still be living in the same city or state, don't rule out the fact that your ancestors may have moved. Once you have listed these individuals, consider looking for anyone in their mid-to-late teens or 20s who may have been living in the household in 1930, but may now be found as a head of their own household. Next, you'll want to repeat this same process for indirect ancestors (aunts & uncles).

Well, I don't know about you, but my list-making hobby will definitely come in handy for this idea.

I still use PAF and will employ the focus filter function to eyeball those ancestors and relatives who were alive for the 1940 census. Should be fun and hopefully enlightening - some of those ancestors were sure pesky about being found.

Happy hunting, and don't be a stranger! (wink)