What is a Geocacher?
What is a Geocacher?
I asked myself that question today and thought I would try to explain what I think a Geocacher is.
Geocaching is a strange beast at times, it goes back to simple childhood dreams and games about finding treasure and it goes all the way to some of the most technological advances made in the last 20 years. It seems to appeal to all types from children to grandparents, from hikers to city slickers, from techie nerds to people who can’t use a compass but it all comes down to one thing, the lure of the next find. It gets in your system and you can’t get it out that is why true Geocachers never just go away. I even found that many Geocachers bring in things from their personal or business life and incorporate it into their hides, such as containers from work, swag or if computer savvy then in their listings or on Geocaching related websites, like this one.
There are thousands of cachers out there who started out and found a dozen or even a few hundred and then stopped for various reasons, for some it was a passing fancy and others maybe just got bored with it in their area because there were few caches to find. There is also the few who live for it and have hidden hundreds and found thousands or tens of thousands, they are the heart and soul of Geocaching. They care about the caches and the people who find and hide them, they help one another, they support one another by helping to maintain the integrity of the caches out there, go to events to give advice and encouragement to each other and new members. These type of people will not get bogged down in things that are not really Geocaching they want to be able to get out to find and hide. Now if there is a place that helps to encourage this type of Geocaching, with help and support, then the real lovers of Geocaching will go there. Ultimately the real focus should be on going out to make your next find but for those times when you can’t then come on in and talk about it with other Geocachers. This is what my goal is in making and contributing to this site, to improve the caching experience in New Brunswick, no other reason.
Very well said, rev.
We’re so lucky, here in NB, to have such a great, involved caching community. There is always something going on, some get-together or event. Heck, we’ve got 3 Sundays a month covered in our tri-city breakfasts! It is so wonderful to get together so often and talk about what we all enjoy – geocaching; the good, the bad and the ugly of it. It’s fun to share stories, secrets and hints; meet friends both new and old and, usually, enjoy a good meal!
This site will enable us to share all that in another way.
Well said.
When we retired many years ago there was no geocaching. We met a friend who asked if we were able to FILL our day now that we are retired. I was insulted because we were very active and busy and did not consider it filling our day.
Now that we geocache, we really fill our day. For example in 2010 we have taken many hikes on snowmobile trails to find series, we have been twice to Shediac Island to place caches. We have met up with caching friends to spend the day on trails hiding caches and finding caches. We have been to a number of events where we had a great time socializing with our caching friends. We spent 4 days in Fredericton at events and hiking and snowshoeing finding tons of caches.
We spend time on our PC planning caching days and caching trips as well as preparing puzzle caches and chatting with caching friends.
When we go on holidays in UK and southern states, we always set aside some time to cache, to move coins, etc. We have a number of caching adventures planned for this coming year including a trip to Sherbrooke to the event to honour Opus Terra and a trip to the Mega in NS. We are also going on a hiking trip to VA in June and we certainly will be caching during the trip.
Caching fills our day. And its thanks to all the great people in the cching community
Very well said, Rev!
When I first did a google search on “What is geocaching” (because a friend of mine updated her facebook about checking her caches after the winter) I thought it sounded like a great thing to do with the family. The kids soon got bored with it, but Snoik and I still cache. I think I am a little more driven to do it, but it is something we can do together and it gets us out to spend time with other cachers.
I had no idea when we started that we would meet so many great and like minded people. I did not know that these people would impact my life in such a positive way. I did not know that these people would become such good friends. I did not know that geocaching would be so life changing.
There is nothing like going to a cache and finding an incredible vista, a lake, waterfall, river or something that takes your breath away.
I am glad to have entered this other world and to no longer be a muggle.