Good story RTW. I actually came across your log entry for that Ballooning find and enjoyed reading the log and seeing the pictures. I also appreciate your "rule of thumb" and we practice a seemingly identical rule. Since this has turned into a very fun topic to read about how each individuals enjoy the game, I felt like throwing our story into the mix. Now, Heather and I are fairly new to the game still (December 04) but we quickly became addicts. For us it doesn't really matter where the cache is because one way or another it's going to get us outside. I've only lived in the valley for a little over a year and Geocaching has been such an important tool in helping me learn my way around. Now as unpopular as it seems to be, we do enjoy the "numbers" aspect of the game. Note that I didn't say we ONLY enjoy the numbers aspect, but it's one area of the hobby we like. It's largely a personal thing and while we also enjoy hiking to caches and searching for difficult caches, easy urban micros have a place in our caching hearts too. In fact, two of our most memorable moments caching together are on opposite sides of the spectrum. We spent a sunday morning hiking around in the Thunderbird Park area. Now granted there are quite a number of caches in this area, but on this day the cache finds were merely a bonus for the awesome views and hiking that we did. Now, I'm a competitive guy and a lot of that is self-competition. When I go hiking I'm competing against myself to see if I can hike higher/farther than I think I can. That same self-competitiveness (if it isn't a word, it should be, haha) plays a part in our geocaching. Our second most memorable moment of caching was actually just this past weekend. Heather and I have been trying to push ourselves to the limit with our "Cache-til-U-Crache" adventures. Our first outing back in July was a long 17 hours of caching in the valley. This past weekend we set out for 24 non-stop hours of caching. Now of course we are aware that there's a numbers record for most finds in a day and that obviously played a part in our motivation. But it takes more than just a numbers record to make you cache for that long. The day was very long and required nearly 350miles of driving and in the end we decided that nearly 23 hours was long enough for this outing. Heather and I had a blast doing it though. We had both been so busy with work and other things that we really hadn't had much time together. Not only did we get to spend a much needed FULL day together, but we improved our communication skills and teamwork skills, something that will hopefully make us a better couple. So while the numbers game isn't something for everyone and seems to be viewed rather negatively by a large portion of the caching community here, it does have its positives. Its pushed us to try harder in beating our own personal goals. Its helped us to realize the power of setting/achieving goals and has helped us with non-caching related goals. Its helped us become a closer and better couple. And not to mention its helped me find and even better way to waste my gas money! :) Aside from all the urban caching we've done recently, I am looking forward to getting some nice hikes in and seeing some amazing sights soon. I'm currently not suppose to be doing any hiking right now due to a pinched sciatic nerve, but rest assured that once my physical therapy is done, I'm looking forward to a few really fun hikes. Maybe we can even get a few groups together for some weekend caching/hiking. Keep on responding to this, it's really enjoyable reading about how each individual/team makes geocaching fun for them. Peace, Love and Caching! Jared of AZBliss02 --- Roping The Wind wrote: > > > >From: "PATRICK FINLEY" > >Reply-To: listserv@azgeocaching.com > >To: > >Subject: Re: [Az-Geocaching] Wow > >Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 21:35:52 -0700 > > > >I think Ken has hit the nail on the head. This is a > game/hobby folks! I > >think some of you take this >WAY to seriously. We > too were obsessed with > >geocaching and the numbers for quite awhile, but > >after stepping back a > >little, realized that in the whole realm of things, > this doesn't mean > >squat. We >now enjoy going after caches that we > really "want" to pursue, > >instead of just going after caches >to add to our > numbers. We exceeded our > >personal goals and realized just how > >compulsive/obsessive this game can > >be. Of course, where we are located right now, we > probably >couldn't get > >20-25 caches in a day, anyway. Geocaching is > supposed to be "fun", and I > >think some >of you have seemed to lost sight of > that. There's plenty of > >other things to do out there, and >maybe some of > you who spend hours on the > >computer everyday, should keep that in mind. The > >best days I ever had in > >Geocaching have been the days where myself, AJ.JR, > Sprocket, Highway > > >Havoc, Malcolm of Taylor's Tomb Raiders, RTW, and > various other cachers > >have taken tough hikes >to beautiful places and > gotten only one cache in a > >day. Sharing the day with your friends in the > >outdoors is what it's all > >about. It seems anymore that the the majority of > posts on the listserv have > > >nothing to do with caching or discussing > geocaching, but are more of a > >social nature If thats the >direction the listserv > is heading ,than so be > >it. I've never shyed away from expressing my > opinion, >and Jeff has stated > >how HE feels about co-FTF's, which is only HIS > opinion. I'm sure Jeff has > >other >things going on in his life right now, but > it's really nobody elses > >business. Also,Trisha has other >things going on in > her life right now that > >are a lot more important than geocaching and I > would >guess she's put > >things into perspective. Just let it go and move on > to something else, like > >the next >pizza event or whatever.............<< > > I agree. I used to be big into the numbers. In fact, > the day I started > geocaching was the day I decided I was going to go > after #1 in the AZ > rankings! :)) I think it was two years later when I > finally hit that #1 > spot. I took a second stab at it and held it again > for a short time later > down the road. Today, I just geocache strictly for > fun. I dont even look at > the azgeocaching rankings much anymore. I > acccomplished my goal and now I > can kick back and just enjoy each cache I find. I > truly enjoy the same types > of caches that Flatiron enjoys. That being the > wilderness type and hiking > caches. Just being outdoors in the country. I am > currently up in Sedona > where I spend my summers now. All the caches up here > are of this nature and > I have truly enjoyed each and every one I do up > here. I like to enjoy the > hike and take my time at each cache. I am not in a > rush to move on to > another one anymore. I do the caches I enjoy doing > and just dont bother with > the ones that I do not enjoy. One of the most unique > caches I ever done was > when I took my balloon and ascended up to the top of > a rock (Shiver Me > Timbers cache) to claim a first find. Oh, and there > was NO co-FTF jeff! I > claimed the first find officially! LOL Although we > all worked together to > make each of our finds possible that morning... not > even I could have found > that cache without the help of the other geocachers > and my crew. If there is > a true Co-FTF.. this would have been the cache (but > since it was my > balloon.... we all agreed to let me sign the logbook > first and claim the > first find! LOL). I was in the company of Rugerdog, > AJ.JR and Flatiron and > we had an awsome time. That was probably the most > fun I had ever had > geocaching. It was a very social and fun morning. > For me, combining two > things that I enjoy doing most... made for a grand > adventure. Anytime I can > get out and go for a hike for a cache with another > team is always fun and > makes the hunt more enjoyable and social. I havent > found a cache in over a > month now. In fact, I found my first cache since > July 23rd just a couple of > days ago. Up here, I now have to drive 30 miles just > to find one cache. With > the cost of gas these days... I just dont bother to > go caching much. > Anyways, back to the topic.. I must say that when I > was caching for the > numbers and seeking that #1 status... I also found > my attitude toward the > game a bit different than it is now. It irritated me > when I saw what "I > considered to be" a not so legitimate 'find' log or > whatever (and I will > not get into what I consider not legitimate for fear > of someone drilling me > a new a**hole on the listserv! LOL). I always kept > it to myself though and > perhaps in some private discussions with other > cachers. But to each their > own... everyone is welcome to play the game as they > see fit. My personal > rule of thumb... a rule I have had since the first > day I geocached and still > a rule today... if I cant put my name in the cache > logbook, I dont claim a > find log on it. To me, just putting my eyes on the > cache isn't a find. If > there is a rattlesnake sitting on the cache... I > will either move it or wait > for it to move, because I have to get that logbook > in my hands to sign it. > But that is just how I prefer to play the game. I > dont care how others play. > These days, I dont have to rush off to find another > cache for a 'big > numbers' day and I dont mind waiting for the snake > to leave on it's own! :)) > > Scott > Team Ropingthewind > > > ____________________________________________________________ > Az-Geocaching mailing list listserv@azgeocaching.com > To edit your setting, subscribe or unsubscribe > visit: > http://listserv.azgeocaching.com/mailman/listinfo/az-geocaching > > Arizona's Geocaching Resource > http://www.azgeocaching.com > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________ Az-Geocaching mailing list listserv@azgeocaching.com To edit your setting, subscribe or unsubscribe visit: http://listserv.azgeocaching.com/mailman/listinfo/az-geocaching Arizona's Geocaching Resource http://www.azgeocaching.com