+Criminal Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 Ever been out hunting caches and suddenly thought, "What's the point?" http://fp1.centurytel.net/Criminal_Page/ Quote
+Mr. Snazz Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 No, but I've had that feeling often while posting to the forums. Quote
+Newenglandah Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 I hike anyways and love being out doors, so I might as well cache while I'm there.. See you in the woods! Natureboy1376 Quote
+Sissy-n-CR Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 "The point" is to have fun. If you're not having fun, take a break! Do what ever it takes to make it fun again. There's been a couple of times, in the middle of a briar patch, bleeding, 40º weather, 15-20 mph winds, shorts, night time, hungry, and have wondered "what's the point?" "We having fun, yet?" CR Quote
+Prime Suspect Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Criminal:Ever been out hunting caches and suddenly thought, "What's the point?" No, that only happens when I'm watching "Friends". Quote
+Ozarktroutbum Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 Whats the point of telling non-caching friends what I'm doing this weekend. When I first explained caching they asked what was in the cache, I said trinkets, toys, beanie babies or whatever. Now whenever I mention going caching they ALWAYS say, "Gonna go get some new beanie babies huh!" I've told them repeatedly that I've never actually traded for a beany baby and don't even own any beany babies, as a matter of fact I rarely trade at all, but thats whats stuck in their pointed heads. (Geocache = beanybabies.) I've just gotten to the point of when they ask about the weekend I just say nothing. I feel like a CLOSET CACHER!!!!! When GPSr's are outlawed, only Outlaws will have GPSr's. Quote
Micqn Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 Whenever I do that I find the cache, Works everytime! Happy. Hunting. Quote
+Mr. Snazz Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Ozarktroutbum:Now whenever I mention going caching they ALWAYS say, "Gonna go get some new beanie babies huh!" I've told them repeatedly that I've never actually traded for a beany baby and don't even own any beany babies, as a matter of fact I rarely trade at all, but thats whats stuck in their pointed heads. I've gotten into the habit of not even mentioning the trade items to people who ask me about geocaching. Otherwise they always ask me if I "got anything good" over the weekend. I generally TNLN now, but I always get something "Good" - I get exercise and photos I may only have 77 finds, but only a couple of those are park-walk 200 feet-find caches. The rest are good old central oregon hikes. Maybe McToys are prized more highly for those who always do 1/1 urban caches... Quote
+Breaktrack Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 Since I Geocache mainly to do something with the kiddos, the point is to just get out and do something together. We do other things together as well, but this is our current favorite. The kids are learning about using the GPS and navigating in general, and I'm getting out and into a little more exercise than usual (especially since retiring from the reserves). On the other hand, I have found that when the kids are off visiting their mom, I still hunt caches....LOL. "Trade up, trade even, or don't trade!!!" My philosophy of life. Quote
+Markwell Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 I'll Markwell to the thread (old forums version) where I made one of my first posts. There's some good thoughts posted by a few in that one. Here's an excerpt of my naive viewpoint at the time: quote:Point? So many things in life have no point to some and a great meaning to others. Me, I watch the Superbowl only for the commercials, have never sat through an entire World Series or NBA championship, and can't see why anyone would smack a little white ball with a club around a golf course. But I do enjoy camping, hiking, rafting, and technology. The glorious thing about our civilization is for those who find an interest, there is usually an avenue to pursue that interest - even though to others, there may be no point. Markwell Chicago Geocaching Quote
+Desert_Warrior Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Criminal:Ever been out hunting caches and suddenly thought, "What's the point?" Like others, I hike way more than I geocache. Having said that, just what are my stats? Well, I have found 8 caches. I have hidden 5 caches. I have put on one caching event, and have had one cache stolen. I have also brought 6 new geocachers into the area, and they have put out at least 4 new caches. I have hauled at least a dozen bags of trash out. How far have I hiked? Dunno. Just over 600 miles last year. Can't look till I get home, but I guestimate about 50 miles so far this year. Dunno... does there need to be a point to it? Y-all have a GREAT weekend. Mike. Desert_Warrior (aka KD9KC). El Paso, Texas. Citizens of this land may own guns. Not to threaten their neighbors, but to ensure themselves of liberty and freedom. They are not assault weapons anymore... they are HOMELAND DEFENSE WEAPONS! Quote
The_Brownies Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 Yes and No...Sometimes it makes me think would my time have been better spent doing something else. Quote
+TeamJiffy Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 ...and the joyful answer I come up with every time is: in this blessed activity, there is no point, and that's precisely the point. If that sounds too Zen-like, that's okay... What I am trying to say: my job can get really hectic - and I am working with mind numbing details - or political disputes. What Geocaching gives me is: Time with my wife.Full occupation of my mind, especially on the puzzle cachesA complete distraction from work ...all in the pursuit of a single goal, with no real point to it whatsoever: getting my body over a particular spot on the globe, with enough energy left over to sign a log book, or slip of paper. It's all about an intense, fully engrossing (mind and body) escape. In that sense, each cache hunt reminds me of the feeling the first time I went to DisneyWorld as a child old enough to appreciate the desire to explore all of the park, and learn how it worked. It reminds me of going to London the first time, and finding my way around the Underground. It's all about seeing new things, having simple goals and joy in achieving them (ride every ride, find every cache, ride each Underground line at least once - including the Epping/Ongar stub (now long gone - sniff)). As a jaded adult, I don't find much that just plains brings joy and makes me smile like a kid again. Caching provides that joy. And to experience it with my wife, and share that joy with her - that is a real blessing. -J Quote
+Mudfrog Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 The point is that this hobby/sport is great fun for many! There are those that dont "get it" or dont "see the point" but we are not one of them. Its not something that we can make a living doing but it is something my wife and i both enjoy considerably. Good exercise alot of the time, seeing new areas, and getting that feeling of accomplishment when you do find one of the harder caches are 3 things that make it fun. I know its few and far between but i allways have that inkling that one of these days we will stumble onto that cache containing a great surprise too . I like paintball, camping, traveling, model rocketry, and lots other things, that in many peoples eyes dont have a point as well. I dont watch the superbowl, even for the commercials,, , but if you do, more power to you. In other words, everyone is different,,,, do what you enjoy!!! Quote
+Criminal Posted January 31, 2003 Author Posted January 31, 2003 I wasn’t referring to people from outside the game. I was referring to you personally. For example, A couple weeks ago I took the day off work to bust about ten caches. I got out late for unrelated issues, and after I spent in inordinate amount of time on the first one, the cell phone rings and my afternoon will have to be spent doing something else. I still have three or four hours to work on some of the caches on my list, but the fun seemed to be sucked out of it. I’m rushing through and not enjoying it as I usually do. Then I find myself asking, “What’s the point?” I’m not having fun, so I just called it off. That was my question to the forum, have you ever asked yourself, “What’s the point?” I think Sissy&CR got it, that’s good advice to take a break. Some days your heart may just not be in it. http://fp1.centurytel.net/Criminal_Page/ Quote
+TeamJiffy Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 ...if I had your situation: A few hours to get a couple caches in, rush through them to get a goal, etc... then back to work... ...I would probably not even get to 'what's the point' - I would have just said "nope - this isn't fun". Caching to me is the time to break away from deadlines and just experience the moment. A few weeks ago, F. and I stayed overnight in a motel off of I-5 near Los Banos, CA, so we could hit a bunch of caches in the Central Valley of California. We had a list of 12 caches - we got to about 7, and found about 5. I don't even remember the exact number. We had fun the whole day - that was the point - even though we didn't even visit every cache we wanted to find. At one of them, we even said "naaah - road too muddy, we'll wait until it's drier." Again - we met our goal - we had fun all day long - the find count was immaterial. So - for caching to work for us, we don't put deadlines, or count goals, or whatever in.. we may have a specific one we want - we will do or die on this cache today (it was Black Box that day), but other than that, no goal... In that sense, could you have been more precisely thinking "what's the point of today's goal" instead of "what's the point of Geocaching?"? -J Quote
+sbell111 Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 A few days ago, I had planned to hit a few downtown caches at lunch. It wasn't until I had jumped in my car and driven out of the parking garage before I blew it off. I wasn't in the mood and it wouldn't have been fun. Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again. Quote
+Renegade Knight Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 When that happens, it's time to bag it, grumble about a wasted day, grab a beer and enjoy the other stuff that got in the way in spite of things. Wherever you go there you are. Quote
+Geo-Johnson's Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 It sounds to me like the cell phone is what ruined your day.............. I don't own a cell phone. I refuse to. I like not being available 24/7. It allows me to do things I enjoy without interuption........like Geocaching Ring ring......."We're not available right now, please leave a message and we'll get back to you". Children are natural mimics who act like their parents despite every effort to teach them good manners. Quote
+Chichikov Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 quote:I’m rushing through and not enjoying it as I usually do. Then I find myself asking, “What’s the point?” I’m not having fun, so I just called it off. That's exactly when I've said the same thing to myself. During one of my last cache hunts I just wanted to get there and see what was in the box. Wasn't paying any attention to where I was even though it happened to be a gorgeous beach on the Maine coast. I stopped and asked myself what I was doing (actually I probably said, "What the $%?"). I felt really foolish, but at least I realized it while I was out and still able to enjoy the remainder of the day. --------------- Where am I going? I don't quite know. What does it matter where people go? Down to the wood where the blue-bells grow- Anywhere, anywhere. I don't know. -A.A. Milne Quote
+Upham Posted January 31, 2003 Posted January 31, 2003 I started awhile ago and only have like 30 caches under my belt. I found that I had to take my time. The most important thing to me is the area. I take my time and look for pictures to take. I enjoy wildlife and plants. Some spots I can just lay down and obsorb. I know I'm weird. There are spots that are unintersting and I'll blow through them. I'll only do one cache a day sometimes. I think the most I've done is three in one day. Take your time it'll last longer. Still looking! Quote
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