angevine

Is this a real topic? -- hard to tell with the previous two posts. But it might as well be. I think it's important to bear in mind that non-geocachers are out there as well (no! say it isn't so!) and to both place and find caches accordingly, in such a way that geocaching is seen in a positive light. Geocaches that aren't well hidden invite people to mess with them (this may be the cache placer's intention, but most often is not) and geocachers who behave furtively draw attention that may not be useful in a time when there's a certain level of concern abut security. I think it's a very good idea, not to have a "fear" of non-geocachers, but at least a sense that they share the planet with us ... and we can't behave as though they don't. -- Jeannette

I'm looking for some statistics to use as I market my new book, "Open Your Heart with Geocaching." The geocaching.com site has *current* statistics about how many people geocache ... but I'm really interested in seeing past stats -- for the past five years, for example. It's my sense that the hobby has *really* grown in that time, but that's only an anecdotal impression -- I have nothing with which to back it up. Does anyone? That would be really useful information for me to have. (BTW, there's information on my site (www.Jeannettecezanne.com) about logging my two geocoins that are related to the book. Check it out!) -- Jeannette

It does happen. Let's face it, we can look pretty suspicious at times from an outsider's POV. I think the important thing when questioned by the police is to be as open and "educational" as possible. In my own experience, once I explained the point of geocaching (and I always mention the cache in-trash out principle), the police have become open in turn and often interested. One in fact later became a geocacher. So if you can see this as an opportunity to do good PR for geocaching, it makes the experience a valuable one. One of our cars has a vanity plate that says FTFP (first to find published). We were pulled over recently and were given a warning for having a headlamp out, and the officer was curious about the plate. We talked for about 20 minutes and he said he was going to check out the site when he got home (I also, of course, mentioned that he could learn a lot from my book!). Police are all potential geocachers. Keep that in mind. -- Jeannette

I actually really like the idea of a gift certificate as a FTF prize. I don't go out on FTF runs; the only one I ever did had a plush toy as prize -- I was delighted at the FTF, but ended up giving the stuffed animal away, it not being something that interested me. With a gift certificate (or gift card), the person can choose something they'd like to have to commemorate the find. I often do gift certificates for a local upscale breakfast/lunch place, or generic iTunes or Barnes & Noble gift cards. Still, as someone else said, being able to log a FTF may be the best reward of all! -- Jeannette

You've got a lot of good suggestions here ... I particularly like the one about just enjoying the journey. I've missed logging a lot of my finds, just because that isn't why I geocache; but I can remember all the wonderful walks. Also -- maybe your body and mind and soul are telling you something. There's nothing wrong with taking a break from it for a month or two. Sometimes we just need a time out. Jeannette

Geocaching.com is not the only site experiencing these problems. Every site that has experienced phenomenal growth goes through it, and it's never solved overnight. Anyone who is on Second Life, for example, knows that the community there is making precisely the same complaints that we're seeing here. It's part of the nature of the human-machine interaction. No one wants to see participants unhappy, and you can be sure tht people *are* in fact working on the problem. Is logging weekend finds on a Wednesday out of the question? -- Jeannette

I'm pretty sure that there's geocaching in SL, despite what purists say about its value and viability. I've seen people with the logo, SLGeocacher, floating above their heads. Haven't had time to explore any further. There are a couple of threads, one of them mine, about this if you look for them. --Jeannette

My husband bought the ultra-bright flashlight that's supposed to frighten animals If you shine it on them. I brought it with me when I spent two wees alone in a dune shack on a writing residency. My review? The mouse living in the shack with me did everything but give me the finger when I shone the bright light on him to dissuade him from making noise deep in the night. Your mileage may, of course, vary....! -- Jeannette

I love love love themed caches, but only if the theme is noted online -- rotten to get there and find oneself ill-prepared. But a lot of work and creativity goes into a themed cache, and I like to honor that. Otherwise ... the reality is that no matter how much we'd like to, we can't control what other people do. They're going to continue to leave junk in caches and getting bothered by it is counterproductive. (Remember that saying about teaching a pig to whistle...?) Being more Zen about the whole thing works for me. I have low expectations and am occasionally pleasantly surprised. -- Jeannette

You were correct; the other person was possibly new to the hobby and didn't understand the mission of hitch-hikers like TBs (and could have expresed themsrlves with more finesse, obviously). I think that it's useful to not take this sort of thing too personally. Attacks such as this one say a great deal about the person making the attack, and very little about the person being attacked. You'll sleep better if you can learn to shrug it off. -- Jeannette

Isn't it wonderful? I, too, would never have gone into the woods if it hadn't been for geocaching, and the result is several years of a hobby I love, as well as a book that expresses my love -- appropriately title "Open Your Heart with Geocaching." I'm glad that it's opened your heart, too! -- Jeannette

Oh, it was fun. You can't take this sort of thing too seriously. Thanks for sharing! -- Jeannette

The Newton was a brilliant idea that was way ahead of its time and therefore was not as successful as later adaptors of the concept. Bravo for having purchased it -- and for still having it on hand. That being said, older devices just don't work with modern software. The only way I can see this orking for you is to manually enter all the information by hand, which seems a waste ... I think other posters, sarcasm aside, are right: purchasing a cheap but modern PDA is probably your best bet. But keep the Newton. It reminds us to think creatively. -- Jeannette (herself a dedicated Mac girl)

I think you'll find that this crowd has no problem with a well thought out micro. What many in this crowd have an issue with are micros placed in unappealing or totally mundane areas simply for the sake of placing another cache. It's not the size of the cache or the style of the hide, its the location. Well said. I too thought the lampost idea creative when I first saw it – not in a parking lot, but in a park that I continue to love to visit anyway. Micros can be just as creative as any other cache (and sometimes more so, with the flexibility their size allows); it's not them being micros per se that's the problem. I have two multi caches that end up with micro containers due to their placement in urban environments, and I think that they're quite creative, if I do say so myself! It's all in how you play the game. If folks want to place (and/or find) a lot of micros in easy-to-find, easy-to-reach locations because they're pumping up their numbers, that's a valid way to play the game. It's not how I play it, and I don't seek out those caches. It's not how a lot of folks play it, and that's probably where this erroneous notion of "hating micros" comes from; people who work hard to create and maintain interesting caches often don't see the point of dropping one in a parking lot. --- Jeannette

It's true. I've been reading about bees and how suddenly a great many of them appear to be disappearing (no bodies left behind ... hmmm ... alien experimentation?) and how they're primordial for the functioning of our ecosystem. I expect that ticks, too, play an important role. Lyme Disease is serious business, and we do have to be careful, though perhaps not to the point of letting it ruin one's geocaching adventures! --- Jeannette

I think that Vinny and Sue had some wise comments to make on the subject, so I won't reiterate any of them. Just to add this: One should never assume that one understands another cacher's intentions (that's probably not a bad rule for life, also, come to think of it). It certainly would be a kindness to contact the cache owner and at the very least alert him or her to the fact that the cache was indeed out in the open – he or she can then take the necessary steps to hide it better if he/she chooses. -- Jeannette

Not possible. You'll need to re-enter all your information. I thought about it, was daunted by the task, and moved on. Good luck, and enjoy the data entry! <grin> Jeannette

There are a lot of different theories around as to the danger of high-voltage lines and pylons. There's some evidence that there's a special allergy that reacts to the presence of such lines in bizarre ways (for more info -- and ignore the silliness of the title -- you can take a look at Albert Budden's "Allergies and Aliens," which discusses high-voltage electricity and some of its common and not-so-common effects). How safe is safe? It depends on what you believe of the theories. I certainly wouldn't spend any significant time around any of them, light or no loght. -- Jeannette

Oh, what a pity that can't be done anymore! I too was entranced at the howling ... what fun! -- Jeannette, regretful about some of the streamlining...

I have to agree with those warning against leaving anything permanent behind. One of geocaching's principle tenets is to travel lightly on the earth; it's the whole point behind CITO (which, hopefully, every geocacher practices informally without waiting for an event). It takes more creativity, but it's possible to place extremely clever caches that do not rely on screws, Velcro, glue, nails, etc. to keep the cache container in place. My advice is to try and think about some of them rather than relying on a device to do it. --- Jeannette

Lock & Locks and ammo cans both have gaskets, and waterproofing problems come in when they are closed incorrectly. The presence of plastic bags in the cache makes this easy to do. Once the gasket has been damaged, waterproofing is no longer a guarantee (or even an option!). And therein lies the problem, since we cannot control how carefully/not carefully people will replace items in the cache and re-close the cache container. Neither of these container types is inherently leaky or leakproof. Both are better options than anything else out there. But it's all in the use. -- Jeannette

It's a good bet that your coin was unactivated and left in the cache as a trade item, though this *should* have been mentioned in the log. So you can activate it, give it a mission, and send it back out into the world! Good luck! Jeannette

That's brilliant. I would never have considered that way of archiving logbooks, yet it's so obvious! Thanks for sharing this. Logbooks are so much a part of how I "play the game," so to speak -- I love looking back through cache logbooks when I discover a cache, and I like to leave something of significance behind in terms of words myself ... it's a way to show that you appreciated the cache. And I think that this is wonderful way to complement what folks write in online logs. Jeannette

The rules are different for travel bugs. If you want to create a cancer awareness TB that would be perfectly fine. As the guidelines say, caches shouldn't be a platform for an agenda. It's a good rule, no matter how noble the agenda. Best wishes in your battle with this horrible disease. I, too, add my best wishes for your health. It is an issue that's very close to my heart, as my mother died of the disease. And yet I do feel that staying within the guidelines is important -- someone has to make a judgment call, no matter how difficult. I'd applaud your launching a TB, though. -- Jeannette

Since you've already gotten his name, I won't repeat it again, only to say that I love love love love my walking-stick, which was a holiday gift from NotThePainter. It's gorgeous, it's functional, it's *so* personalized, and I feel naked if I ever go out without it. (I'm currently in my alternative address in Provincetown for the month and didn't have room to pack the stick, and geocaching without it just feels wrong, somehow!) Don't settle for anything less than an El Diablo original! (And read an interview with him in my upcoming book, in which he discusses fashioning sticks and geocaching in general!) -- Jeannette