[Az-Geocaching] Big Sky
Brian - Team A.I.
listserv@azgeocaching.com
Wed, 2 Jun 2004 01:21:08 -0700
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It seems that these days, this type of message is becoming too =
commonplace, all for different reasons. A decision was made recently, =
that was very long in coming, and very tough in deciding. On June 1st, =
my home went on the market. My family and I are moving to Big Sky =
Country, Billings, Montana.
Last summer was the first vacation my family and I had ever been able to =
take as a family since being married (8 years this August). Instantly I =
fell in love with the place, the weather, just the overall environment. =
But I was very set against considering a move because I had finally =
found my niche in law enforcement, and had my foot in the door to test =
for officer. I simply didn't want to leave a sure thing. My Grandpa's =
death in mid-February changed that. He had always told me that if I =
moved up north, he'd be right behind me. Now, he is unable to do so, =
but will be there in spirit. My plan was for someday to move back to =
the mountains, originally somewhere in Colorado. But the thought came =
to me one day, and I agonized over it for 3 months before finally =
deciding I just needed to follow my heart, thanks to some wonderful =
advice I was given. Oddly enough, I was driving to my first cache find =
when I called him from my cellphone to give him my first impressions of =
the place.
Things are moving quickly now, because the plan was to be out of the =
house and on the road August 1st. No sooner than the sign is put up =
(Saturday morning), a neighbor comes to us (who is moving out) and tells =
us they want to buy the house. Tuesday we were given a formal offer. =
Thanks to a substantial inheritance, a home that was out of reach for =
them is now well inside the ballpark. If there aren't any financing =
problems, closing will be July 16th, at which time my road-trip will =
start and a new life will begin. We already have someone coming to show =
the house in the morning, so a quick sale is imminent.
Some of you might wonder what I've meant in some logs about my =
soon-to-be-replaced cachemobile. On Monday, my Dad and I are trading =
vehicles, as he wants a/c, and wants me to have a 4x4 for the mountains. =
My Jeep envy is now quelled, as I am going to be the owner of a 1994 =
Jeep Wrangler YJ (all the more reason to find one of those Jeep TBs). =
Thanks to an outstanding realtor, our contract will give us quite a bit =
more out of the home sale, and I get to start tweaking. Initially, I'm =
looking at a Dick Cepek 3.5" Suspension Lift, Eagle 15x8s, 33" BFG ATs, =
and a cat back exhaust for just a little more juice. Of course, there =
are more mods planned, but over time and as money permits. :) This =
will get me started for off-roading in the mountains, and the trail =
rides I can't wait to join.
In all honesty, the abundant caching, and more importantly the Arizona =
Geocaching community were a huge tug on my mind when considering this =
decision. I am having a very tough time leaving everyone, because I've =
met some of the greatest people through a sport I found by accident =
after hearing a news story on Channel 10 back in August 2001. One of =
the things I'll miss most this year is the planning and execution of the =
second Halloween Radioactive event. It was so much work the first time =
(Tamo can attest to this), but the rewards were so great when so many =
people attended, and the event caches for all went so well. For those =
who are curious, the ratio of caches in Montana vs. Arizona is 1:5.05 =
(as of 0038 on 6/2/04). Sure, there are far fewer caches, but in one =
respect it will be a much greater experience finding each and every one =
of them. While driving to a cache yesterday, I came up with an idea for =
a multi that will bring that ratio down to 1:5. =3D) I've already =
joined 2 Geocaching groups in Montana, and hope to foster a strong =
Geocaching community in Billings, but it will never reach the level of =
Arizona or many other states, due to a statewide population of under 1 =
million. Billings rests comfortably at ~130,000, and is the largest =
city in the state.
With my wife's family living there and in Sheridan, WY, we'll be taken =
care of in the emotional support department, and something I've wanted =
for awhile will finally be reality...time to ourselves. :) There is a =
family cabin south of Fishtail, MT that sits a mere 75' from the banks =
of the Stillwater River, literally around the corner from a ranch owned =
by Mel Gibson (Beartooth Ranch). While researching lift kits, I showed =
my wife some pictures of some trail runs, and hard-core offroading. She =
was so excited she couldn't contain herself. I see a Jeep Jamboree in =
our future, and lots of mountain mud running down the driveway. :) A =
cache in this vicinity is a distinct possibility as well as some future =
event caches.
On to the formalities...
As with TeamBlunder, I too am looking at cache adoption. This will not =
occur until the middle of next month, but may not officially change =
ownership until I arrive in Montana and have internet access setup at my =
in-laws.
The most important issue to deal with is transferring of the =
Adopt-A-Highway torch. This was already well in motion before I began =
to consider moving, and support was so strong I went for it. Now, I =
need someone who is willing to be point for ADOT, which consists of =
little more than calling the coordinator and informing them of a =
clean-up date, picking up vests/trash bags and organizing the clean-up. =
It truly wasn't a difficult task, and required more time driving =
back/forth to make sure everyone had bags and water than it did to =
actually plan the event itself. The requirements are that 4 cleanups =
per year are performed, but if they are done each quarter, the cleanup =
time will diminish if the participation stays the same. With this, I =
will also pass on ownership of the CITO Always cache. The signs are =
already up, and our first cleanup was very successful, even though we =
didn't get the southbound side completely clean. It would be a shame =
for ADOT to have to remove those signs in favor of another group, =
because visibility is so outstanding.
Caches I need to turn over:
CITO Always (should really go with the Adopt-A-Highway Program)
Fzzzt! (considering archival+simple maintenance)
Directionally Challenged (most likely archiving, unless someone really =
wants it)
Rest Your Mind (simple maintenance)
Horseshoe View
Lime Creek Cache (not likely I'll be getting back up there before the =
move)
Caches I may turn over (or simply archive and recreate there):
It...Has You
Fundamental Flaw
Both of these caches may be difficult to understand, with only It...Has =
You requiring maintenance on intermediate steps.
I'm keeping the following:
Fallen Heroes (virtual)
A Fallen Hero (virtual)
Journey to the Center of the State (AZcachemeister has graciously =
offered to maintain)
Unfortunately, I don't think I'll have time to complete my final Matrix =
cache in Arizona. It will only exist in SE Montana, or perhaps NE =
Wyoming. At this point, anyone wishing to find either Matrix cache has =
until 7/1, unless someone wants to adopt them. At that time, they will =
otherwise be archived and removed (this applies to any un-adopted caches =
I'm not keeping).
I apologize for the long e-mail, but I'm just that way sometimes.
Brian
Team A.I.
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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>It seems that these days, this type of =
message is=20
becoming too commonplace, all for different reasons. A decision =
was made=20
recently, that was very long in coming, and very tough in =
deciding. On=20
June 1st, my home went on the market. My family and I are moving =
to Big=20
Sky Country, Billings, Montana.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Last summer was the first vacation my =
family and I=20
had ever been able to take as a family since being married (8 years this =
August). Instantly I fell in love with the place, the weather, =
just the=20
overall environment. But I was very set against considering a move =
because=20
I had finally found my niche in law enforcement, and had my foot in the =
door to=20
test for officer. I simply didn't want to leave a sure =
thing. My=20
Grandpa's death in mid-February changed that. He had always told =
me that=20
if I moved up north, he'd be right behind me. Now, he is unable to =
do so,=20
but will be there in spirit. My plan was for someday to move back =
to the=20
mountains, originally somewhere in Colorado. But the thought came =
to me=20
one day, and I agonized over it for 3 months before finally deciding I =
just=20
needed to follow my heart, thanks to some wonderful advice I was=20
given. Oddly enough, I was driving to my first cache find =
when I=20
called him from my cellphone to give him my first impressions of the=20
place.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Things are moving quickly now, because =
the plan was=20
to be out of the house and on the road August 1st. No sooner than =
the sign=20
is put up (Saturday morning), a neighbor comes to us (who is moving out) =
and=20
tells us they want to buy the house. Tuesday we were given a =
formal=20
offer. Thanks to a substantial inheritance, a home that was out of =
reach=20
for them is now well inside the ballpark. If there aren't any =
financing=20
problems, closing will be July 16th, at which time my road-trip will =
start and a=20
new life will begin. We already have someone coming to show the =
house in=20
the morning, so a quick sale is imminent.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Some of you might wonder what I've =
meant in some=20
logs about my soon-to-be-replaced cachemobile. On Monday, my Dad=20
and I are trading vehicles, as he wants a/c, and wants me to have a =
4x4 for=20
the mountains. My Jeep envy is now quelled, as I am going to be =
the owner=20
of a 1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (all the more reason to find one of those =
Jeep=20
TBs). Thanks to an outstanding realtor, our contract will give us =
quite a=20
bit more out of the home sale, and I get to start tweaking. =
Initially, I'm=20
looking at a Dick Cepek 3.5" Suspension Lift, Eagle 15x8s, 33" BFG ATs, =
and a=20
cat back exhaust for just a little more juice. Of course, there =
are more=20
mods planned, but over time and as money permits. :) This =
will get=20
me started for off-roading in the mountains, and the trail rides I can't =
wait to=20
join.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>In all honesty, the abundant caching, =
and more=20
importantly the Arizona Geocaching community were a huge tug on my mind =
when=20
considering this decision. I am having a very tough time leaving =
everyone,=20
because I've met some of the greatest people through a sport I found by =
accident=20
after hearing a news story on Channel 10 back in August 2001. One =
of the=20
things I'll miss most this year is the planning and execution of the =
second=20
Halloween Radioactive event. It was so much work the first time =
(Tamo can=20
attest to this), but the rewards were so great when so many people =
attended, and=20
the event caches for all went so well. For those who are curious, =
the=20
ratio of caches in Montana vs. Arizona is 1:5.05 (as of 0038 on =
6/2/04). =20
Sure, there are far fewer caches, but in one respect it will be a much =
greater=20
experience finding each and every one of them. While driving to a =
cache=20
yesterday, I came up with an idea for a multi that will bring that ratio =
down to=20
1:5. =3D) I've already joined 2 Geocaching groups in =
Montana, and hope=20
to foster a strong Geocaching community in Billings, but it will never =
reach the=20
level of Arizona or many other states, due to a statewide population of =
under 1=20
million. Billings rests comfortably at ~130,000, and is the =
largest city=20
in the state.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>With my wife's family living there and =
in Sheridan,=20
WY, we'll be taken care of in the emotional support department, and =
something=20
I've wanted for awhile will finally be reality...time to =
ourselves. =20
:) There is a family cabin south of Fishtail, MT that sits a mere =
75' from=20
the banks of the Stillwater River, literally around the corner from a =
ranch=20
owned by Mel Gibson (Beartooth Ranch). While researching lift =
kits, I=20
showed my wife some pictures of some trail runs, and hard-core =
offroading. =20
She was so excited she couldn't contain herself. I see a Jeep =
Jamboree in=20
our future, and lots of mountain mud running down the driveway. =
:) A=20
cache in this vicinity is a distinct possibility as well as some future =
event=20
caches.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>On to the formalities...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>As with TeamBlunder, I too am looking =
at cache=20
adoption. This will not occur until the middle of next month, but =
may not=20
officially change ownership until I arrive in Montana and have internet =
access=20
setup at my in-laws.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The most important issue to deal with =
is=20
transferring of the Adopt-A-Highway torch. This was already well =
in motion=20
before I began to consider moving, and support was so strong I went for=20
it. Now, I need someone who is willing to be point for ADOT, which =
consists of little more than calling the coordinator and informing them =
of a=20
clean-up date, picking up vests/trash bags and organizing the =
clean-up. It=20
truly wasn't a difficult task, and required more time driving back/forth =
to make=20
sure everyone had bags and water than it did to actually plan the event=20
itself. The requirements are that 4 cleanups per year are =
performed, but=20
if they are done each quarter, the cleanup time will diminish if the=20
participation stays the same. With this, I will also pass on =
ownership of=20
the CITO Always cache. The signs are already up, and our first =
cleanup was=20
very successful, even though we didn't get the southbound side =
completely=20
clean. It would be a shame for ADOT to have to remove those signs =
in favor=20
of another group, because visibility is so outstanding.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Caches I need to turn =
over:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>CITO Always (should really go with the=20
Adopt-A-Highway Program)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Fzzzt! (considering archival+simple=20
maintenance)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Directionally Challenged (most likely =
archiving,=20
unless someone really wants it)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Rest Your Mind (simple =
maintenance)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Horseshoe View</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Lime Creek Cache (not likely I'll be =
getting back=20
up there before the move)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Caches I may turn over (or simply =
archive and=20
recreate there):</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>It...Has You</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Fundamental Flaw</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Both of these caches may be difficult =
to=20
understand, with only It...Has You requiring maintenance on intermediate =
steps.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I'm keeping the following:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Fallen Heroes (virtual)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>A Fallen Hero (virtual)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Journey to the Center of the State =
(AZcachemeister=20
has graciously offered to maintain)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Unfortunately, I don't think I'll have =
time to=20
complete my final Matrix cache in Arizona. It will only exist in =
SE=20
Montana, or perhaps NE Wyoming. At this point, anyone wishing to =
find=20
either Matrix cache has until 7/1, unless someone wants to adopt =
them. At=20
that time, they will otherwise be archived and removed (this applies to =
any=20
un-adopted caches I'm not keeping).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I apologize for the long e-mail, but =
I'm just that=20
way sometimes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Brian</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Team A.I.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>
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