› Forums › Geocaching in Wisconsin › General › Is caching really addictive?

Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)
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  • 03/19/2013 at 2:36 pm #1733988
    sandlanders
    Participant

      Just wondering how addictive our activity really is…

      Before answering the poll, take a little time to analyze your own responses and feelings when you think of geocaching.
      And “quitting” means everything: finding, hiding, events, forums…

      The only thing is that you can keep the friendships you have made while caching, but you can’t go caching with those people anymore.

      03/19/2013 at 2:55 pm #1969089
      blue_cougar54494

        @sandlanders wrote:

        And “quitting” means everything: finding, hiding, events, forums…

        WHAT?????? And give up hosting the annual blue frosted treat meet & greet???? Not in this lifetime!!!!!!

        03/19/2013 at 3:06 pm #1969090
        jar42

          Is smoking addictive ? I quit smoking about 20 yrs. ago. Cold turkey, no patches, no support group, no nothing. When my friends found out they all offered me cigarettes.
          I didn’t go looking for a cache for about 30 days, a couple of years ago. When I did start again it was because the weather was getting warmer and I was getting bored.
          If I’d have gotten back to my woodworking instead who knows.

          03/19/2013 at 4:47 pm #1969091
          Trekkin and Birdin
          Participant

            We do think geocaching is the type of activity that can draw people replacing other addictions, generally in a more positive fashion. Someone we care very much about who has dealt with serious addictions has come to a couple caching events with us and he simply said…”Yup. Just a group of addicts finding each other! It’s like radar.” While that isn’t the case for us, we do like “collecting.” That said….once before, we hit a point where we said…”Enough already.” We crept back into it after a time, but have generally done so at a less obsessive rate. We didn’t like driving 2 or more hours just to cache and started returning to other activities closer to home that we enjoyed before….and liked it.

            The broken arm has given us the time and space to really think about the whole thing once more. I’m not saying we are quitting…we aren’t. But we have a few things we’d set out to do and would like to get there. After that, it will be going if we feel like it and looking for the kind we truly enjoy, passing on the rest. If need be…..we could quit all but the friendships. A year ago I don’t think I’d have been able to say that unequivocally, but now I can. I could say much more about the reasons it’s become much easier for us to say this, but for this discussion, I’ve said enough.

            Birding? That’s a whole different matter. 😉 Not so very different that caching, really!

            03/19/2013 at 4:54 pm #1969092
            kungfuhippie

              Caching is definitely my good addiction having replaced other less positive activities. That being said, I’ve been trying to manage my addiction which means we cache every other day and only go to a handful of events in IA or IL instead of caching everyday and driving to northern MI for 1 cache 🙂

              03/19/2013 at 8:34 pm #1969093
              BigJim
              Participant

                Could I quit? Yes. Would I want to? No.

                All opinions, comments, and useless drivel I post are mine alone and do not reflect the opinions of the WGA BOD.

                03/19/2013 at 9:48 pm #1969094
                Mister Greenthumb

                  Got home from work at 4:15. Read my e-mails. Read BBG’s log for his FTF on a puzzle that I solved, but don’t have time to get until the weekend now that I’m back to work. Checked to see if any new caches were published today. Checked the “Wildbunch” on Facebook. Went to the Forums to see what the Threadstealers were doing today. What a banged up bunch. I first noticed the post and survey after doing all of those things. Now time to vote.

                  03/19/2013 at 11:36 pm #1969095
                  Run N Search

                    As long as the friendships could stay, caching could go.

                    There once was a cacher of note
                    To give up caching, he did vote
                    He was set in his mind
                    And deleted his finds
                    But his friends still kept him afloat

                    03/19/2013 at 11:38 pm #1969096
                    Grandma & Grandpa

                      Other than REALLY trying to fill in blank dates on the calendar in December and January (which we did), we have mostly cached in spurts. It felt good to ignore the calendar in February and just do a few when we felt like it. Maybe we’ll black out all 366 days in 2014… or 15… Our average has been just a bit over a hundred finds a year since starting. We usually cache when we are on vacation or going someplace new, but not too often have we traveled just to cache. A few times, yes, but more likely to just take a small detour while on the road to/from someplace. But I do see a few dedicated caching road trips in our future, as long as there are also quilt shops worthy of visiting!

                      Could we quit? Yup. Do we want to? Nope.

                      cYa, Chris & Jim

                      03/19/2013 at 11:59 pm #1969097
                      amita17
                      Participant

                        I could quit caching, but for me it isn’t really an addiction. I go through spurts of heavy caching, then stretches of a few caches or none. I have other hobbies, other commitments, financial fluctuations…since I try to keep it in perspective, I see no reason to quit 😀

                        03/31/2013 at 4:43 am #1969098
                        k12linux

                          I’m sure I could stop if I wanted to. But that’s the problem with addiction isn’t it? Wanting to stop?

                          You might know you should stop something. You may know it is being very disruptive and having a negative impact on your life. But truly wanting to stop is a key.

                          But if I thought geocaching was having a negative impact on my life, relationships, family or others around me then I’m confident I could just walk away. Right now, however, the only negative thing I can come up with is the extra gas money being spent.

                          On the other hand, I’m spending more time with my family doing something active. Getting more exercise. Getting outdoors more. Meeting new people. So… I have no interest in quitting and don’t expect to any time soon.

                          04/03/2013 at 6:28 am #1969099
                          iowaPete

                            Quit? Sure, I could quit any time I wanted to.

                            I quit 12 times last year…. 😆

                            iowaPete

                            07/21/2013 at 6:24 am #1969100
                            maskinwi

                              Caching seems to be a part of our life now. If anyone in my family would be addicted to something, this is something I would want them to be addicted too. The places, the people and the sport… great!

                              So are we addicted to caching? Its become a way of life for us. We use it for learning and entertainment. We use it as family time and friend time. So… if I am addicted. I guess I am proud of my addiction! 🙂

                              Can I stop? Sure, we all could. I did! for over six months after having a back surgery but I was happy to return!

                              All opinions, comments, and useless drivel I post are mine alone and do not reflect the opinions of the WGA BOD.

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