It’s that time of year again, stackers – the return of our very own #secretsilversanta for the #silvergoldstackers community here on #hive. Honestly, I’ve been running this little social experiment for so long now that I’ve lost count of how many yearrs it’s been. All I know is that it’s become something of a tradition, and I can’t imagine December without it.
The idea has always been beautifuly simple: you just comment on this post with those two magic words – “I’m in.” That’s it. You’ll then be part of the draw, where every participant sends and receives (at least) 1oz of silver from a fellow community member. As always, all the names will go straight into my trusty sweet tub. Yes, the very same sweet tub I’ve been using since the beginning. For some reason, it feels wrong not to use it – a quirky bit of nostalgia that connects all these years together. From that tub, names will be drawn at random, and the pairings made.
You’ll have the whole of this month to put your name down. Then, very early in November, I’ll do the draw. That way, you’ll have a week or two to pick out something your #secretsanta would really appreciate, package it up with a bit of festive cheer, and send it off. Hopefully, by Christmas morning, someone in our community will be unwrapping your thoughtful gift, just as you’ll be unwrapping theirs.
Now, a quick housekeeping note. We may need to shake things up slightly this year. Over the last couple of rounds, we’ve run into a few headaches with US customs and fees on imported goods. To keep things simple (and fair), we may need to split into two groups: North America, and the rest of the world. If you’re happy to pay extra postage and risk customs fees, do let me know, and I’ll see if cross-Atlantic pairings are still feasible. But for now, assume we’ll keep the groups separate so everyone gets their gift without the stress of unexpected costs.
Every year, I’m blown away by the generosity of this community. It’s never just about the silver – it’s about the thought, the kindness, and the surprise waiting under the tree. For me, this tradition has become one of the highlights of the Hive calendar.
So… are you in?