Caches in cachers' yards

[+Proud Soccer Mom]

The major complaints seem to be:

 

1. Socialisation. So, hey, CO's won't force themselves on you. Come ring the doorbell if you want to talk. We got things to do, too. Most CO's are probably out caching anyway.

 

2. Voyeurism. Let's not get carried away here. In my yard, I won't even know you're there unless you make a lot of noise after you have the cache. All your hunting will be unknown to me unless you come ring the doorbell and tell me.

 

3. Wrong Yard. This is easily fixed by a CO placing a geocaching sticker on their mailbox or other easily visible, identifiable part of the property that can assure cachers that they're in the right place. Nobody's going to shoot you in my neighbourhood, but you'll know from the cache page that you just need to see the GC sticker and you're good to go. This would even calm people who are imagining fencing somewhere on the property that the cache would be behind.

 

The benefits seems to be:

 

1. Openness. CO's are able to create hides on a scale that would be impossible on public property outside their control. This creates interesting and unique hides that aren't easily duplicated.

 

2. Security & QA. These are less likely to be muggled from being on private property and being under the conveniently consistent care of the CO. Every time I walk the dog, I can visibly confirm the cache is where it needs to be.

 

3. Fun to meet cachers. Each finder is a potential meet & greet that continues to expand the community and make the game more fun.

 

4. Perfect for children. This provides a cache for children to check the swag trades and logbook on an at-will basis to encourage their participation and interest in the game... without even leaving the backyard. Kids who help manage caches know the swag trading value and aren't quick to toss Happy Meal toys into someone else's cache or eager to take swag without having something to put in. They also understand moving TBs in tact. There's hope for the next generation, y'all.

[+WRASTRO]

Does the one on my front porch count?

 

Seriously, if the owner gives some clear way to tell where the cache is (so you don't go messing around on someone else's property), I see no problems.

 

No problem other than some think it's OK to bury the cache on their own property, which it isn't.

Hey, we did the original in Febraury of 2004 and we loved it! Maybe we can hunt your replacement the next time we are in town.

[Mushtang]

Just as a matter of course, I dislike city caches and micros even more.

Says the guy that owns 10 micros and 40 smalls.

[IslandAdventure4]

There is no way I would want to have that many people in my front yard. Could you imagine that when you take out the trash, or pick up the Paper in your PJ's that somebody could be there in your yard?? I leave the socializing with fellow Cachers' out on the trail

[+nashuan]

I have a cache in my front yard that would not have been possible to offer in "the wild". I get pretty good reviews on the cache itself, although admittedly I also get comments from cachers who are intimidated to walk onto private property. In this case in particular, you are walking onto someone's yard in an urban environment; not a pretty little patch of woods out in the "back 40" - but right up to the house and under a front porch.

 

I have stated clearly in the cache listing that it is on private property, I have placed a Groundspeak logo just above the cache (which can be seen from the sidewalk) and have even placed a photo of the outside of the container on the cache page. All of the neighbors are aware of the cache and all think it's a great hide and a great idea. Frankly, the caliber of cachers who seek it out has helped convince the neighbors that it's OK to have strangers among us, and in several instances, they have "helped" a few lost souls find their way and have struck up many friendly conversations with my "customers".

 

There has only been one incident of Mrs. Nashuan being spooked when a cacher popped his head up and caught her off guard and to be honest, I still laugh five months later when I remember her screaching at the top of her lungs. Poor thing, I think she scared him half to death

 

I know that this won't be for everybody and to be honest, I'd be intimidated to walk onto someone's property myself, but I think that the people who have found my first cache, have really liked it and I have certainly enjoyed offerig it for people to find. I wish I had hundreds of acres and I'd put out more caches that you would care to seek, but I only have room for one and I'm glad that I have had the opportunity to have it published.

[+FastChapter]

I suppose it would be especially evil to put your cache in your neighbor's yard, hah! I kid, though.

 

I'd be intimidated a good bit. I've a habit of double/triple-checking my facts to the point of paranoia, and I can see myself wondering if I'm actually at the right house. I don't know, I suppose I would eventually man up and venture onto the front lawn, but I'd probably wait until nobody is home. Not to say I don't love conversation, but I don't want it to be the "Why in God's name are you digging in my petunias!?" conversation.

 

...or the "Sir, please follow me to the squad car..." conversation.

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

I suppose it would be especially evil to put your cache in your neighbor's yard, hah! I kid, though.

 

I'd be intimidated a good bit. I've a habit of double/triple-checking my facts to the point of paranoia, and I can see myself wondering if I'm actually at the right house. I don't know, I suppose I would eventually man up and venture onto the front lawn, but I'd probably wait until nobody is home. Not to say I don't love conversation, but I don't want it to be the "Why in God's name are you digging in my petunias!?" conversation.

 

...or the "Sir, please follow me to the squad car..." conversation.

It can happen, sure. I've had one (that I know of) cacher looking on my neighbor's porch when trying to find the cache on mine. The neighbor (a Baptist preacher) wasn't home, but when I told him what happened he thought it was funny.

 

Maybe I just don't see the big deal that many folks seem to be worried about because we live a more laid-back lifestyle where we don't worry much over things like this. I guess I am fortunate in that I am friends with and have keys to my two immediate neighbor's houses, and, if I owned one, they would have keys to mine. My parent's house that I grew up in and the five houses that I have owned since moving out of it have never been locked... we don't even own a key to this one, or if we do nobody can find it. Like my family and friends, my neighbors know that if I am not home and they need something they can come on in and get it. If I am out of town they come in and feed the animals (dog and cat). We've never had a house key in 50+ years and are comfortable living like that. My wife locks her car, a habit she picked up from working in town for 26 years, but my car and my kids two are never locked here at home. During deer season I sometimes leave my rifle in the car, and if so I lock it then, otherwise no. If we had to worry about our neighbors we would move!

 

So, if a cacher ends up on a neighbor's porch they'd just laugh and tell them "the cache is over there".

 

Unfortunately not everyone has such a harmonious neighborhood, so if you don't and you have a cache on your property at least let your neighbors know what and where it is and tell them to ignore 'lurkers' wandering about.

[+flask]

I suppose it would be especially evil to put your cache in your neighbor's yard, hah! I kid, though.

 

 

i have one in my neighbor's yard.

[+froldt]

The closest unfound cache to my house is in someone's front yard. I am just not entirely comfortable coming up to some stranger's house.

 

Having said that, one of my favorite caches is located in someone's yard. Owning the property, they have the freedom to set up their cache in such a way that would not be possible anywhere else. Not only is it very creatively done, but there are components that would likely be stolen if not so near their house.

[+pospishil]

I think it would be a bad idea to hide a cache on one's own residential property. I forsee major liability issues with this. A cacher could get hurt or (claim that they were hurt) on your property and perhaps sue. People are very litigious nowadays, especially where I live.

Edited March 12, 2009 by pospishil

[+TrailGators]

I think it would be a bad idea to hide a cache on one's own residential property. I forsee major liability issues with this. A cacher could get hurt or (claim that they were hurt) on your property and perhaps sue. People are very litigious nowadays, especially where I live.

This is a good point.

[+Vater_Araignee]

Caches in a yard are a conundrum for me.

When I'm out on the trails and I see somebody else, I hide my GPSr or myself. I isn't muggs I'm avoiding. I'll happily explain geocaching to them.

I will not chase a cache in an urban yard past the sidewalk.

In a rural yard, I'll only go after it if I'm wearing my face mask hoodie so I can cover my face, but the receiver stays in view to help identify why I'm there.

I want to have at least 10 of the local major players identified before I reveal myself at an event. Could happen in a month, may take years. 4 2 go.

 

The conundrum comes into play because I want to hide a cache in my yard that wouldn't be feasible to hide it in the wild. If I where to hide a cache in my yard, that would allow somebody the opportunity to come try to identify me. Nope, sorry, me first.