Hello, Ketchikan, AK!

Every once in a while, I'll get an e-mail or comment on my blog from an unexpected source.

I've always kinda assumed that the only people reading this thing were my far-flung friends and maybe one or two internet-savvy members of my sprawling family.

But with comments I've gotten from complete strangers on one or two blog entries over the years have made me wonder exactly who was coming to visit, and taking a peek into my life.

So, recently, I signed up for Google's new free web metrics service, Google Analytics, and I've been getting all sorts of information (none of it identifying, little of it which I understand) about the people who're visiting my site.

One of my favorite features of the service is its Geo Map Overlay, which shows where visitors are coming from. On a map.

I'm here to tell you, I don't know anyone in Ketchikan, AK.

But knowing that someone in Ketchikan was catching up on me made me curious about the town, so I looked it up. Turns out it's a town that seems to service a lot of cruise ships.

Aside from the fact that it's overrun with tourists (and, really, can anyone living in New York City really fault anyone for living in a place swamped by tourists?) it looks like a really cool town. There appears to be a thriving arts colony, it's clean and it's pretty. And it's surrounded by forests and mountains... perfect for taking pictures! And communing with nature.

Just the kinda place I'd dig if I could thrive in a place that wasn't New York.

I do have to confess to wondering how someone in Ketchikan, AK stumbled across my humble blog. And what might be bringing them back. My Ketchikanian (?) visitor has been back several times. It's both incredibly neat and a little unsettling to me that I can know that, but I do, thanks to Google Analytics. Go, Google.

Anyway, hello Ketchikan, and welcome to my world. I hope you enjoy it.