Rehab is for quitters...
Does this sound like anyone you know?
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=108ce45f-8802-46d3-b42a-fb9fdeafc34d
Is geocaching the focal point of your entire existence?
Are your vacations planned completely around what geocaches you want to hunt?
Does it amaze you that people actually buy and use GPSrs for something OTHER than geocaching?
Do you find yourself frequently explaining to local law enforcement what geocaching is all about?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may be afflicted with a little known, but highly contagious, condition known as Geocaching Addiction Syndrome (GAS). People who have GAS often talk about these and other strange symptoms.
If you think you have GAS, or are showing symptoms of it's early stages, then you should strongly consider enrolling in the 12 Step Program. The 12 Step Program was designed specifically for people with GAS. It was created to help people understand their addiction, see first hand what it does to their lives, and effectively deal with it.
Fine Print: The 12 Step Program is not, and does not claim to be, a cure for GAS. Instead, it should be thought of as a certification program for geocaching addicts, so that at the next local geocachers club meeting, they can proudly say, "Hi, My name is __________, I have GAS, and I've completed the 12 Step Program."
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=06608f57-b159-4c5d-8ecb-c125c449e0da
Do you find yourself unchallenged by drive-by urban micro-caches and feel a little let down by virtual caches? Do you take your GPS with you when you go grocery shopping? Do you lie awake at night, thinking about your next geocaching adventure? Do you spend inordinate amounts of time in 99 cent and 1$ discount stores? Do you hoard small containers? When asked for directions, do you give latitude and longitude coordinates? Do you buy mints and eat them three or four at a time, just so you can empty the tin they came in? Are you an adult that carries matchbox cars and Happy Meal toys with them everywhere you go? Did you name your family dog Garmin or Magellan? Do you only visit your in-laws when there is a new cache posted in their neighborhood? Do you have a rubber stamp with your team name on it? Do you worry about the limit of unique numbers that can be specified using a four-digit hexadecimal numbering system? Do you visit city parks on a regular basis, but never really make use of the equipment or facilities? Do you sometimes hold a GPS receiver to your ear and pretend it is a cell-phone, in order to avoid suspicion?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may be addicted to Geo-caching. But fear not, there is help for you and others like you. We have developed a 12-step program that will satisfy your cravings for geocaching. Of course, the first step to any successful program is admitting that you have a problem. If you are reading this, chances are, you have a problem. If you are ready to do something about it, you should gather together your family or other support group and go to the posted coordinates to begin the program. This is intended as a self-administered program so go at your own pace. You should be able to complete the entire program in 2 hours or less, provided you don’t go into remission along the way. If you find that you really need some assistance, you can read more about each of the twelve steps below.
[12 Steps:]
Step 1 – Admitting you have a problem will open the gateway to your successful recovery.
Step 2 – Don’t push yourself beyond your capabilities.
Step 3 – Without help, an addicted geocacher could eventually lose his sanity.
Step 4 – If you are having trouble, take a deep breath, relax, and count to 100.
Step 5 – You needn’t be ashamed of your addiction; hold your head up high and be proud.
Step 6 – If you’ve made it this far, stop and give yourself a treet.
Step 7 – The path to recovery is no picnic, but the rewards are worth the effort.
Step 8 – If you still have the energy, try to complete this step without being seen.
Step 9 – Sometimes, when you’re uncertain, you just have to take a chance and go out on a limb.
Step 10 – In order to cure your addiction, you need to get to the root of the problem.
Step 11 – This next to last step is an important benchmark on your road to recovery.
Step 12 – If you can complete this step, congratulations! You deserve to log it as a find!
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?pf=&ID=55314&decrypt=y&log=
Following is a Geocaching Addiction Test
Do you have an addiction to geocaching? Only you can answer that question.
Take the following quiz to help put your geocaching in perspective. If you end up answering "yes" to three or more questions, you may want to take a good look how your life is affected by geocaching.
Have you missed work or classes because of geocaching?
Along those same lines, have you ever taken an entire afternoon for your lunch break because of geocaching?
Do you have trouble going anywhere without first checking to see if there is a geocache in that area you have not yet found?
Does the sport of geocaching come up in almost all conversations you have?
Do you consider the number of geocaches you have found to be guiding your self-confidence?
Do you use geocaching to help you relax?
Have you left home without something you are supposed to bring (like your spouse) but never without your Geocaching bag?
Do you log in to Geocaching.com as soon as you wake up to see if there is a new cache in your area (OK, then how about just before you go to bed)?
Do you forget your spouses name, but remember the cache number to your favorite geocache?
Have you begged your spouse to take you to the local dollar store to get more "log books"?
Do you lie to others about how often you geocache?
Has anyone asked you to "Sit down, we need to talk" about your geocaching?
We're here to help. This cache is a test to see how addicted to geocaching you really are.
Your goal is to not find this cache.
Can you resist searching out this, or any other "easy" cache?
Show the world how strong you are. You can stop Geocaching anytime you want. Right?
Really you can...
"Fiiiind meeee..."
Did you hear something off in the distance... ? Never mind. It must have been the wind. Well, on with your goal:
First, be sure NOT to direct your car to the designated parking place on the side of the road at N44° 54.006' W91° 37.708'.
Next, do NOT, under any circumstances, walk toward the next waypoint of N44° 54.129' W91° 37.710'. Once you have avoided getting to this location, make sure you do NOT head toward the extremely bent tree at N44° 54.160' W91° 37.787'. Do NOT search this tree thoroughly! In this tree you will eventually find NOTHING! What did you expect? We're trying to help you! Now you have another chance to recoup yourself and GET OUT of the area before you make the almost inevitable mistake of finding this cache. Remember your goal?
Your goal is to not find this cache.
With that goal firmly ensconced on your brain, do NOT now set your GPS to N44° 54.192' W91° 37.660' where you will most certainly end up in a mad hunt trying to find this cache! Remember, you are NOT supposed to find this cache because you do not NEED to find it. You are NOT addicted to Geocaching, right?
Sadly, those poor addicted Geocachers listed below have FAILED this test. In spite of the little smiley faces they have next to their logs, they are the ones we must truly feel sorry for: After all, they are addicted to Geocaching!
BikeDog
