I did.
I think visiting specifically to see other EA degrees would be good, and worthwhile. It does indeed help in memory retention.
But personally speaking, I would avoid general meetings in other lodges until a Master Mason. The biggest reason is so that I make sure to make the best possible impression as a representative of my lodge. That is important to me.
There is also the bit about untempered mortar. Again, personally speaking, I tried to show a certain respect to the position of EA and FC to keep it close to my mother lodge and wait for the broader experience until I had progressed. I think it helped me to focus on the goal, the memory work, and gave me a larger "reward" and incentive to look forward to.
I think a lot of folks get stuck enroute from EA to FC. It isn't interest in the fraternity or the symbolism, or the history or any of that that is the largest impediment. It is the memory work. I think one reason is that a month or two after initiation that it starts getting looked at as a chore, and that part of the reason why is that the EAs are already participating in a lot of masonry and so the work starts getting looked at as a bit of a hassle to get over with. And then if a few more months go by the EA starts feeling embarassed they aren't making more progress. And it builds into a vicious cycle.
So the advice I'd give any EA, even one as bright and driven as you, would be - focus like a laser on the memory work. Be indefatigable about it. Don't put it off for a single day. And any part of time you spend in masonry make sure is to reinforce that. The socializing, adventuring in different lodges, the diving into history and all of that awaits you throughout your lifetime. But for now keep your eye obsessively on the ball.
Just my take bro, every man is different. I'm easily distracted and have a poor memory, I had to approach it this way, you may not.
