For 20+ years of my life, I spent most of my free time and energy on wilderness search and rescue, I became an EMT, I lost some of my fear of heights learning High Angle Rescue, became an instructor in outdoor survival and many search and rescue techniques. I even bought one of the first GPSr units available to the general public (a Trimble Scout)
My body is not what it used to be and I found myself slowing the rest of the team of 20 something year olds down and hindering their progress. As others in emergency services know, burnout is always on the horizon.
Using Geocaching I have an outlet for getting out and seeing places I would not normally see, and can do it at an old mans pace. I still love the outdoors and the tech tools but now can do it at my own pace and when I want to, not at 0200 in the snow and rain on Thanksgiving night.
And I want to say THANK YOU to all of the emergency services folks that find time and energy to do both.
Mac