OK, I'm in the minority (even though almost 1/2 the replies were by charter members). With two VERY active geocachers doing most of the hiding in my area, and one of them now a charter member--whose caches represent ~20% of the caches in my area, I was concern it would make membership a necessity. $ 30 bucks a year is not alot true, and I do not entiely rule out joining eventually(... the coffee really comment hit home ).