Everything is more fun when you can share the experience with someone else. Sharing lightens the load, makes for a good laugh and provides encouragement. But in genealogy, a "buddy" can be hard to find. Regular friends, even family members, may have a hard time sharing a genealogist’s enthusiasm. Not everyone can get excited over discovering a long-lost g-g-aunt in the 1880 census or finding a tombstone in an overgrown cemetery.

I’ve been extraordinarily lucky. My maternal grandmother was as interested as I was in our family history. A dear aunt also is interested, although not quite as driven as I am.

My longest term "buddy" however, is my cousin, Stephen. For over 25 years he and I have worked together: researching, discussing, excavating and, occasionally, arguing over our family tree hunt. We are different in many ways. We’re of different generations (and ages); our research styles are different; our temperaments, while complementary, are different. We’re also 1500 miles apart. But the differences actually turn to strengths and we make a really good team.

So it seems perfect that Stephen joins me in this blog. The blog will be much more fun for the both of us together. And hopefully, for readers, will give two different (but complementary) viewpoints.

And we just might stop boring our families!