You know you're addicted to geocaching when...

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 8:16 pm

I need to do some research here for one of my several ideas for a new cache hide. *Disclaimer* I may use your responses on my cache page unless you tell me that you don't want yours shared. Please help me finish this sentence based on your own experiences: "You know you're addicted to geocaching when..." I'm looking for short, funny stories, quips, eye-rollers, etc. Well, if you want to write a short novel that's OK too, it just probably wouldn't be used on my cache page.

OK, I'll get the ball rolling. You know you're addicted to geocaching when...you stick your hand in a cactus but still keep climbing up in search of the cache.

You know you're addicted to geocaching when...you end up hauling yourself and your children through a wet and muddy forest just after church while everyone's dressed in their Sunday best to "capture the flag".

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 9:01 pm

You know you're addicted to geocaching when you slip out during intermission of a concert to find a cache. GC36Q4X

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 9:05 pm

Coincidentally, the thread at the link below was started exactly three years ago tomorrow. You can get plenty of ideas from it, but I'm sure a lot has happened to cachers since then, and there are a lot of newer cachers in these forums who weren't around to contribute their thoughts.

Check the thread out here...

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:55 pm

Excellent Sandlanders! Now where's your story?

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:22 am

You know you are addicted to geocaching when...
while planning an out of town trip you look up what caches are available where you are going.
When you wake up in the morning you check to see if any new caches have been posted near you.

STEMmom

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 8:04 am

beccaday wrote:

Excellent Sandlanders! Now where's your story?

I had a couple in that thread. Wink

But really... I'm not addicted to geocaching... Really.

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 9:25 am

I know this is intended as a lighthearted thing, but I'll just dredge up an old thread with a little different slant on all of this.

http://wi-geocaching.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=8028&highlight=addiction

There are some in the geocaching world who have personal reasons for wishing to avoid looking at what we do in terms of "addiction." I'll just say it... part of the reason we got active in geocaching was to momentarily escape problems with addiction issues with a family member, which was really ripping our family up. We were literally in the midst of doing serious interventions with someone, interventions that probably kept that individual alive. I can laugh at some of this stuff now, because we saw movement forward, but I also know that for those folks, it's always a tenuous hold on things. Just something to think about....

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 10:23 am

You "steal" the FTF on a tributee cache, because you just need your "fix".

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 10:26 am

Your "love" of the game leads to marital issues.

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 10:29 am

When all of your vacation and trip planning revolved around where the closest caches are located. I've even tried for caches on the way back from a funeral in Missouri (DNF).

Really I don't have a problem, I can quit any time.......really.........

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 11:40 am

Trekkin and Birdin wrote:

I know this is intended as a lighthearted thing, but I'll just dredge up an old thread with a little different slant on all of this.

http://wi-geocaching.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=8028&highlight=addiction

There are some in the geocaching world who have personal reasons for wishing to avoid looking at what we do in terms of "addiction." I'll just say it... part of the reason we got active in geocaching was to momentarily escape problems with addiction issues with a family member, which was really ripping our family up. We were literally in the midst of doing serious interventions with someone, interventions that probably kept that individual alive. I can laugh at some of this stuff now, because we saw movement forward, but I also know that for those folks, it's always a tenuous hold on things. Just something to think about....

Very good point birdin. It is true that just about anything can be taken too far. I'm sorry for your struggles.

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 1:55 pm

CodeJunkie wrote:

Your "love" of the game leads to marital issues.

What did my wife say? Seriously, there have been many, many, many discussion over caching and our "lives". Lately, I've relented some and hate it.

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:11 pm

I'll list two.

One that happens daily during the summer when I'm up North: You drive 24 miles round trip from the cottage to the nearest WiFi connection to check the Geocaching.com site for new caches. My sister and wife keep telling me I should put phone (out of cell range) and internet service in, but I keep telling them "Not at the cottage!."

Just happened today after the power was out for 13 hours due to the snow storm: The first site you check online when the power returns is the Geocaching.com website.

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:21 pm

CodeJunkie wrote:

You "steal" the FTF on a tributee cache, because you just need your "fix".

Oops

is that a bad thing?

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:41 pm

Actual Log from an archived cache in Door County I had to find, GCM2H5, Ahnapee Trail Detour.

I'm in the area, it's a cache I haven't found, and we've had a hot, muggy, rainy summer. So why not make the experience more memorable... Trail part was a breeze. Time to turn in for the cache, water, water, more water... But it's so close! Pick out a spot that's somewhat dry, half way there it's getting wetter... Heck, I'm taking off my shoes and socks. Getting closer, and my sweat has caused all my bug dope to wash away. Here come the mosquitos! Finally find the container thru my sweat filled eyes, sign the log. I hear what sounds like maybe you mowing the lawn... Seriously consider walking the trail to your house to introduce myself and save the trip back out. I turn back towards the trail in like a good cacher. Heading straight for the trail. No following the route I carefully picked in. I want to get away from these mosquitos! Big mistake! Swamp grass 5-6 feet tall giving me grass stains where no one should ever get them. Finally reach the trail! Decide to walk back on the trail in my bare feet to let the mud on them dry, to ease in cleaning my feet off before I get in my vehicle. Another mistake! Step on some type of nettle plant on the trail, YOW! I'm still digging the thorns out!

Well I "earned" the terrain rating today! But even better, another cache off the list. Don't expect me to drop off any travel bugs here in the future! What an adventure!