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BaytownBert, NavyStud, & Muddywatergirl |
Help! I have fallen and can't seem to get up, or is that
something I can work on?
I had fallen into the TFTC SNTFTC LOL KCCO logger group
without even realizing it. Using various Apps, macros, or chicanery I had
removed the human element from my once very personal logging experience. I was simply
the longer version of SLTFTC. or "more later" on occasion, telling
myself I would come back and finish it.
How did this happen? I am retired for gol-dern's sake. It's not like my
time is constantly drained or something, right?
No. We find time for what is important to us. Fact. If we
write short abbreviated anonymous logs we are making a statement that the log
is nothing more than a requirement. The cache owner doesn't mean a thing, nor
the container. "Found it. STFTC!" Never mind that the C/O is a newbie
screaming out for recognition, or worse, not caring what they read, just give
me my smiley. Mentor?
Me? You? What? What tha heck?"The weather was rapidly disintegrating as I hovered over the delicate dry log and scribbled my strong font-based BB on the papyrus we all hold in such high regard. I mean the stuff is the stuff of life to a geocacher! We simply MUST sign the log. It's like the Icon of Icons! I salute you log and I put my ink upon you! Thank you. See relevant amateur photo. Have you ever seen such a wonderful face? I haven't." GC7RX1P
When I instruct geocaching classes to newbies and veterans
alike, I urge them to "write logs you would like to read". Of course
an LPC placed by a Vet to help us get through 31 days of August literally
deserves a TFTC and a hi-5. I'm afraid the loss of the original intent of a log
has devolved into nothing more than a way to record a smiley.
In other words, the numbers have became more important than
the experience.
Is it really this quiet, or am I experiencing an auditory
issue?
"I wanted to bump
up the adventure on this one and it was really hot, sweaty and lots of mossies
were flying around my face. I stripped down to my skivvies and crawled 385
meters through the wet grass to make the find. I was so excited, I ran all the
way back to Tha Choppa with people cheering me the whole way. Now that's what I
call a geocache, or was that obvious? See the photo!" GC7T2VF
Is it true, we ask ourselves. Are the numbers truly ruling us?
Sure, justification is just that. We can excuse away almost anything, but our
logs reveal something we may not want to admit. Let that sink in. Are we
writing meaningful logs, or are we simply doing the minimum for the score? Food
for thought, right?
.
3 comments:
I think it is important to write your journey. That is the whole point of making caches and hearing of cacher's experience. Part of geocaching is letting the owner know you appreciate the cache and it was worth it or not. I think it is a respect thing. That is not very common in the world today. I hope to get out there soon and start caching again. May the force of neverending caching never end and stories begin!
I have just recently discovered after claiming a 5/5 cache and waiting to write the log of my experience when after I got back home gave me more enjoyment than all the previous caches I have claimed. I mostly use why I'm out and about followed with a TFTC. But my 5/5 needed more. Now looking back I want to give more to all the caches. So I will be trying to share my experiences more with the caches I find from this day out. I agree numbers or numbers but CO want to hear about the experience that we had getting their caches. Keep up the good work
The experience, it's about the experience for me. The people, the likeminded folks that gather and enjoy the hunt ... the fun ... the challenge. I certainly enjoy the outdoors alone and the quiet breezes, but the Geocaching game (it IS a game) is something I can do in addition to enjoying getting away and outside whether it's in urban areas or deserted country roads. My introduction to Caching was by an old high school friend, BrainWerx and those caches were a big series of caches in the Dallas area by SandBass King and Queen. What fun avoiding muggles at the bus stops, the favorite 'Spinning Wheel' that I imitated when I got back home to Houston and garnered many Favorites in Jesse Jones Park with 'Easy As Pi". The logs expressed that fun and thanks for the searches.
The fun at reading the logs from dads and moms out with their kids, family fun and learning the game, the GPS, the tracking and perseverance that it takes sometimes to look and look some more, and then the Joy! Found It! The logs by so many back then and some of the ones now, that shared the experience of the grins and smiles that searching and finding brought them. And adding a picture?! So fun to see the happy faces, sometimes red with the heat of the day or rosy with chapped cheeks from the cold. I even had some First to Finders that used the opportunity on an early morning run, to ask and accept a marriage proposal out there at the cache! How wonderful to hear that story. That was always worth the time, energy, preparation and installing of my hides.
As long as I've been caching, I've never reached the number of finds that so many others have. It's OK if that what the game is to you. But if you had a good time, if the cache brought you an opportuniy to see something new as a virtual or just a break from the humdrum of the everyday, it would be great to leave some cool logs of your experience, a little acknowledgement of and sharing of what your fellow cacher, the 'hider 'afforded' to you. Happy Caching! MuddyWaterGirl / Ruthie Ames
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