[what to carry when geocaching]

Here are some things I'm eyeballing Will get at least a few but like to do lots of research to make sure I'm getting the BEST small LED flashlight, the BEST multi tool, etc

 

Stuff sitting in my Amazon cart:

 

LED Flashlight (so cute to boot):

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...ZF&v=glance

 

Leatherman Scissors Multitool (people say can double as little pruner) - also comes in pink and gray:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...ZF&v=glance

 

Nitrile Gloves:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...UF&v=glance

 

Fisher Space Pen someone mentioned above:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...ER&v=glance

 

Stuff I want but haven't narrowed down to any particular brand:

 

- Safety goggles (for brambly areas so my eyes don't get poked out)

- Telescoping walking stick

- Grabber tool (for caches inside trees or under/by rotten trees)

 

This is just a wish list item since it's $80+ but sure looks awesome for cutting down brambles in my way, or at small child eye poking level.

 

Fiskars-Telescoping-Pruning-Stik

http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-Telescoping-...534&sr=1-13

 

Very wish list would be a Garmin Oregon/Colorado for better precision - currently have a Garmin Nuvi and iPhone with geocaching app.

 

Carry a bag with small swag, pen, ziploc baggies, travel bugs at all times in my purse

 

Going to be buying a snazzy new backpack to stash my stuff.

 

Week two of geocaching

 

PS. What would you use an olive fork for??? (listed by a cacher in a link in post above mine). Love the plastic fork for burr removal idea Definitely need to add wet wipes to my arsenal and pack more trash bags.

[New Webcomic about Geocaching!]

Hehe very cute Good job and great idea!

[Travel bug etiquette question]

I'm a newbie, started last week, and found travel bugs for the first time ever tonight at a local travel bug hotel There were seven travel bugs inside and I took two, planning to relocate them this wknd when I go out of town. Is there an etiquette to how many you should take from any given cache? Like a limit of one so others get a chance? Or are the travel bug owners so eager to have them keep moving that I should have taken more? Is this a silly thing to stress out about?

[Good inexpensive swag....]

I've been dropping little kid swag - plastic bugs and rings Enough for siblings to each get one.

 

We just started last week but a few things that my guys have gotten excited over finding:

- a goofy Frankenstein mask

- a quarter

- sidewalk chalk

- bubbles (was just reading posts about bubbles ruining contents of caches)

- a Mickey Mouse card game

[How do you find the time?]

One thought is to get your kids involved with you and pull them out of some of their activities over time - you sound stressed out and over-scheduled. Geocaching is a great way for kids to get outside exercise AND family bonding time all rolled into one

 

Personally I rarely participated in after school sports until I was in high school and never felt like I missed out on anything. Instead my family and I spent hours on weekends hiking, going to museums, horse back riding, etc etc and I loved it It's my birthday this wknd and I'm choosing to go out of town to spend it with my parents (and hubby and kids)

[Way to see filter by cache size on map?]

Thank you!

[Way to see filter by cache size on map?]

I got the premium membership and was hoping that it would let me view only larger caches on the map (the only ones my guys are interested in for the swag) but I don't see an option. I know how to create a special search that is emailed to me (or clickable to view right away), but I can't figure out if there is a way to view that list on a map? I want to have a visual of where the bigger caches are in any given area.

 

Would also be awesome to filter/view by size and other attributes on my iPhone, but that's another topic

 

TIA!

[Any hints on improving our unobtrusiveness?]

I just started last week and have been asked a few times if I lost something or if I need help. I've been out with anywhere from one to four small children in sometimes odd locations so people are just wanting to make sure we're ok

 

I've just thanked people for asking and told them we're geocaching, and they have all been happy with that (maybe looking quizzical but not staying long enough to get an explanation)