What's The Point In Caching

February 19, 2006

I don't get why you would go find a box with a GPS that has crap in it? Someone tell me the meaning of Geocaching!

February 19, 2006

I got no answer.

3.2k · February 19, 2006

I don't get why you would register on a site, and say you love geocaching in your profile, to ask this question? Someone explain this to me.

February 19, 2006

you see I was all excited about geocaching at first but now i kinda am stumped

8.4k · February 19, 2006

you see I was all excited about geocaching at first but now i kinda am stumped

Most registered users find less than 20 caches, or so I've heard........ You're not breaking any records by losing interest after 1 cache..... It's just not the sport for some people.....

9.2k · February 19, 2006

It's about the hunt, the process of getting there, and the treasures found along the way: the people and places. It's not about the crap in the box.

February 19, 2006

It's about the hunt, the process of getting there, and the treasures found along the way: the people and places. It's not about the crap in the box.

And don't forget it's also good exercise and you get to see some beautiful scenery if you get out of the city.

February 19, 2006

It gets you out of the house, out from in front of the TV or computer, and gives you the opportunity to see more of and enjoy the beautiful world we live in. (well okay, so we're still in front of the computer, BUT just to look up more caches!)

(and post in the forums)

18.9k · February 19, 2006

It's about the thrill of the hunt. Exploration of places you didn't know about. Quality time with family. Research and planning of the next hide. Scenic vistas. A practical use of cool technology. Finding the unexpected. Learning to deal with frustration. Meeting nice people. Getting some exercise. Reason to finally drive down that road. Having fun. A shared interest with my boys. And as a bonus.....sometimes finding a cool trade item in a piece of tupperware.

February 19, 2006

1) It's something else to do with a GPS receiver besides key in waypoints to have fun making routes. 2) People are always saying I'm lost in the woods. I might as well be looking for crap in an ammo can while I'm out there (not that I ever take anything unless I have a kid with me). 3) I get to leave my signature on a log, both at the cache and on the internet. It's cheap immortallity.

What's the point in going to a forum and asking why people enjoy something? Does everything have to be involved with keeping the world turning?

Edited February 19, 2006 by ghs

February 19, 2006

Your post in your first find stated “Found my first cache! It was easy since I live 1 minute away.”

There are dozens of caches within 10-15 miles of your first find. Maybe if you hunt out a few more there will be a sense of fun or a rewarding experience or at least getting out and doing something, besides “video games.”

I hope you keep trying this new activity and find many caches and see the wonderful experiences it can give someone.

Try reading the logs from some of the caches in your area. People don’t hide the fun their having.

Good Luck,

February 19, 2006

It recaptures the excitement of finding hidden treasure as a child. It's also a great family activity. As a parent of teenagers it is rare to find activities that the whole family has fun. Plus we have met some great people that we would never have known otherwise.

3k · February 19, 2006

At the very least, it's exercise with a little extra reward at the end. At it's best, it's a lifetime of skills pitted against someone else's lifetime of skills to out-think, out-manuever and succeed over your opponents attempts to fool you and throw you off the trail of a treasure. Along your way, you'll see things you've never seen on television, you'll meet all kinds of interesting people and you'll enrich your life with new experiences and accomplishments. It's not about the destination, it's all about the trip you took to get there. - F&tH

Edited February 19, 2006 by fox-and-the-hound

3.2k · February 19, 2006

Ask your doctor if Geocaching might be right for you!

February 19, 2006

Let me "show" you some of the reasons I cache

1 Reason

another reason

And yet another

I like the fact that I can take my dogs for a walk while caching

I like that I have met some GREAT people whie caching

Some of the csche locations are in places where the view is breath taking

I could go on and on

C2C2C

February 19, 2006

Let me "show" you some of the reasons I cache

1 Reason

another reason

And yet another

I like the fact that I can take my dogs for a walk while caching

I like that I have met some GREAT people whie caching

Some of the csche locations are in places where the view is breath taking

I could go on and on

C2C2C

Thank you for my next three vacation ideas.

February 19, 2006

Beats sitting around doing nothing or watching tv

February 19, 2006

Because it is fun! Even when it is 20 degrees out. It takes you to places that you might not of given a glance at.

It sparks interst in the kids, here where I live some one did a solor system cache, they found places that where to scale dist. from a the Basket ball hall of fame, we have all nine planets and the sun to go find, this was great for my girls as they were studying outer space when we started caching. There are historical sites, monuments, parks, ect, all begging to be discovered or rediscoverd?

We have checked into the parks we go to an a reguler basis and found that one of them as 8 caches now, we did a few, the family wants to go back and get the rest. For us it is great family fun, a great way to intro kids to the out doors.

Don't quit on it after on cache, like every thing in life it is the journy not the destination that matters. Look at the places you go on vacation you may be suprised to find one right on the beach or the camp site. Our city is full of interesting and boring caches, it all what you puy into it.

February 19, 2006

Today my husband, daughter and I spent the day geocaching. He said about halfway through that this is making our marriage stronger. It's something we both love to do together, he is more of the techo guy and I love the search and find part. But we both love finding new places, new parks we never knew existed, exploring landmarks that we've only driven by at 60 mph, and slowing down and enjoying each others company. We do find a lot of crap in caches, but we hardly ever take anything. I leave something in every cache that's not a micro, something fun and useful for the next person. We also like to cache in and trash out, we feel like we are giving something back to the place that gave us enjoyment. If we had stayed at home today, he would have watched TV most of the day, and I would have flipped through boring magazines, talked to friends on the phone about nothing, and instead, we had a wonderful day of family time and found 18 caches to boot! We live in California and we even got hailed on today, and liked it! Also, I like figuring out the puzzle of it, and solving the riddle or second stage of a multi. Keeps Alzheimers away.

Geocaching is not for everyone, but I love it, and I hope you can enjoy it after you get a few more under your belt.

If not, and you want to sell your GPSr cheap, let me know.

5.8k · February 19, 2006

I see in your profile that you also list Video Games as a hobby of yours. Most of my friends also like them and play them a lot, but are baffled by my interest in Geocaching. I like to think they are one and the same.

Many of todays best Video Games include elements of: Solving puzzles, beating challenges, finding hidden items, exploring new areas, learning the back stories, beating your previous score or that of other players, meeting new characters, Etc.

Geocaching has many of the same elements, except out in the world, rather than in a computer or game system. Basically for me, I've taken on the same types of challenges as those in the Video Game world, only in an environment where I feel more comfortable, namely out in the natural areas, and in new cities all over. When you include the hundreds of people I've met, it just gets better.

If you find yourself wondering what it's all about, it may just be "not your thing" or it may be that you just haven't seen any caches that have peaked your interest. If you havent already done this, you may want to try reading up on some caches that might lead you to a place you find interesting, or taking a look at some of the puzzle caches out there (finding the cache in the spot you've determined by solving the puzzle can be a reward in itself, even if you don't want any of the stuff)

Besides getting to new areas, I've really started to enjoy seeing who has been there before me, and collecting their signature trade items

February 19, 2006

It's about the hunt, the process of getting there, and the treasures found along the way: the people and places. It's not about the crap in the box.

Yeah, it is not all about what you find in the box. It is the adventure of getting outdoors. It is just fun. If you don't like it just let caching go.

February 19, 2006

Why would someone want to run around in circles with a bunch of people throwing a ball around the field and throwing themselves at one another, over and over again? (baseball or football).

Try looking more than the surface and you'll be able answer your own question.

7.2k · February 19, 2006

I don't get why you would go find a box with a GPS that has crap in it? Someone tell me the meaning of Geocaching!

I've been having a similar moment myself.

Maybe, we'll going find some caches to remind myself...

4.1k · February 19, 2006

What's the point to anything? Just to play with your mind.

February 19, 2006

I'm always amazed at interesting sites that caching takes me to. After living in this area for 30+ years I'm often taken to places I had no idea existed. Especially with a local cacher's series that are at waterfalls. There's many that are right at the side of the main highway.

1.4k · February 19, 2006

Just pretend you are working for the US embassy as a spy. You have to find a secret "dead drop" to exchange information with your unknown contact. You are given instructions to find the location of your "dead drop" and you have to get there and drop off the micro film..................

Just ask a NASCAR fan what is the deal with the folks driving around a circle for 3 hours <_< - I still don't get it.

2k · February 19, 2006

TOP TEN REASONS TO GO GEOCACHING -

10. Discover new parts of your body that can be scratched, scraped or chafed by ill-fitting undergarments.

9. Sure beats sitting around waiting for the FedEx caveman commercial to play again.

8. Thousands of dollars in cash and prizes to some lucky winner ... but with no magazine subscriptions to buy.

7. Geo-babes are the hottest.

6. The chance to walk around town carrying a $300 piece of electronics, walking stick, camelpack, TrailMix, and PDA while jotting down notes, updating your camera and poking around a guardrail looking for a Hide-A-Key box.

5. Fascinating conversations with law enforcement agents of every type.

4. Gain valuable experience at acting nonchalant and innocent while hanging around the playground.

3. Discover which spiders in your area are REALLY poisonous.

2. Chance to find that elusive Piglet from the 1997 Happy Meals Collection.

1. Better than sitting at home waiting for the next Pauly Shore movie to open.

1.8k · February 19, 2006

Trust me on this one ... if you have to ask, then this sport is not for you. As we've discovered in another thread (too lazy to markwell) this sport is aligned with activities and interest of the dork community. And yes, we do have our fair share of geeks participating however, very few if any nerds stay with the sport for long.

5.3k · February 19, 2006

I got no answer.

I guess you could say it makes about as much sence as knocking a little white ball around with a club trying to get into a little hole in the ground. <_<

5.7k · February 19, 2006

Try bowling. <_<

February 19, 2006

It's not about the crap in the box.

I love all the crap <_< That's all I am in it for <_<

5.3k · February 19, 2006

I have boxes of crapfrom caches, I am thinking maybe I should set up a large cache call "Big box of geo-crap"

1.8k · February 19, 2006

When I cache, it does many things for me: gives me another reason to play outdoors, it hones my observation skills...

Sometimes I curse the hider, sometimes I laugh out loud... sometimes I chuckle evilly...

I see this game partly as matching wits with the hiders. ("Ah-ha! Found it, you so-and-so, can't fool me, no sir, aren't I just the clever boots? Bet you weren't expecting someone like me, huh?")

I have learned much of the darkness in people's souls, searching for their hides. <_<

And for the cleverness and generosity of people who make this a great game. I mean, people put a lot of time into some of the hides. <_<

Life's too short, if it's not your cup of tea, bail....

24.7k · February 19, 2006

Hell, we spend our lives searching for the meaning of life. I don't have time to find the meaning of geocaching, just time to enjoy it.

1.4k · February 19, 2006

Trust me on this one ... if you have to ask, then this sport is not for you. As we've discovered in another thread (too lazy to markwell) this sport is aligned with activities and interest of the dork community. And yes, we do have our fair share of geeks participating however, very few if any nerds stay with the sport for long.

Hey now enough of the geek thing <_<

February 19, 2006

I too have had people laugh at me and point fingers, "Why do you spend all that time with that stuff?"

Palm is also helping me with daily life - between the dance classes for the girls and doctor/dentist appointments, between Girl Scout meetings and Band concerts, not to mention the ever-elusive "grocery list" that I write and leave at home - keeping me organized.

Software is teaching me a tiny fraction of Compu-Geek-Speak. I have used several "go-around" methods, incorporated mini-programs (macros to others) and figured out some pretty tricky settings.

GPS unit is another one of those gadgets that I like to "collect", but it is what puts the FUN in Functional!

February 19, 2006

So I have a reason to buy more gadgets. <_< It is the hunt.

February 19, 2006

What's this "geocaching" everyone is on about? Who are you people? Where am I?

February 19, 2006

Whoops! I HATE when that happens. That wasn't Joe's post, that was me. *wave*

February 19, 2006

Hell, we spend our lives searching for the meaning of life. I don't have time to find the meaning of geocaching, just time to enjoy it.

I like that statement.

Geocaching, like life, is what you make of it. Like anything else its not for everybody but for those of us who find something in it, it works. And it works because it gives us something that makes life better to live. For some its the hunt, for some its the stuff, for some its getting outdoors and seeing the amazing sites of nature, for some it the people, and for some its something else. Its what it brings you that makes it feel worthwhile and if it doesn't give you that something then its not for you. And guess what, that's OK too. <_<

JDandDD

February 19, 2006

It's freakin' BURIED TREASURE!

2.7k · February 19, 2006

I don't get why you would go find a box with a GPS that has crap in it? Someone tell me the meaning of Geocaching!

It's a hobby and as with any hobby the meaning or purpose is enjoyment. You either enjoy doing it and continue or you don't and quit. Very few people get rich or find ultimate enlightenment in their hobbies. Also, hobbies are not one size fits all. For example, I don't understand why some people get all excited about collecting stamps. I started my own collection once but quickly discovered it wasn't the hobby for me. However, stamp collect is a very popular hobby that a lot of people enjoy.

February 19, 2006

I don't get why you would go find a box with a GPS that has crap in it? Someone tell me the meaning of Geocaching!

Why do anything? We geocache because it's fun for us. Period!

Why would you play a board game like chess? Fun, exicitement, the challenge? That's why we geocache.

Why do some hike up to the top of a peak? Because they can!

Geocaching is just a fun sport for us and at times an adventure!

Like it or leave it.

If it's not for you then just go on your way and stop bugging us.

Peace.

February 19, 2006

It's about the hunt, the process of getting there, and the treasures found along the way: the people and places. It's not about the crap in the box.

That's what I think, too, but tell that to the "what's with all the crap and McToys" posters.

February 19, 2006

Just ask a NASCAR fan what is the deal with the folks driving around a circle for 3 hours - I still don't get it.

Just picture it as 43 guys wandering around in circles, in a park, doing a multi cache and each one of them trying to be the first to find! <_<

February 19, 2006

Here's why we geocache:

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?LU...e4-48a518613bd5

We've had a blast exploring parks that we either didn't know were around, or went to areas and have seen things we wouldn't have otherwise.

The kids like to trade, but unfortunately, there isn't always a lot to trade. But we try to make sure to point out other things while we're out, particular when we're on a trail.

February 19, 2006

Heres my reason,

I love geocaching!!!! I dont care if its -15 or 108 degrees, wherever or whenever you cache you always take a little something special from a cache that you cant get anywhere else in life. whether you cache for adventure, exersize, or just for something to do, you can always make the greatest memories that you will cherish for the rest of your life while geocaching!!

February 19, 2006

For me and my family, it's all about being taken to places we didn't know existed prior to caching (the below waterfall, for example). Not to mention I've met some really great people. Caching has also renewed my love of hiking and provided some awesome family time in the outdoors.

February 19, 2006

Much as RNLorna stated above, it makes our relationship stronger, PLUS we have met the nicest folks on trails, and have even gone out on some geo-caravan trips together with them. The thrill of the hunt...being FTF, both of us laughing until we cried over a deviously hidden cache. A million and one reasons to cache., I could go on all night, I assure you.

If someone told you that you would find serious treasure in a GC, they have done you a huge disservice. True, sometimes you do come across really neat stuff, but usually just what most would consider junk. It's all about the hunt itself, my friend.

2.6k · February 19, 2006

I do it just to tick you off!

What's The Point In Caching

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