"old" or "new" cacher?

[sandlanders]

We have always felt like new geocachers, coming in at the late date of fall of 2007, thinking we’d missed the heady early days of the sport. By the time we were on the scene, new virtuals and other types of caches were not allowed, geocaches were no longer allowed in Wisconsin state natural areas (and many good “classics” had to be archived), and everyone was (and still is) so far ahead of us in finds and experiences.

But then we see all sorts of new blood in the game, eager for the hunt and open to new ideas, not bound by tradition or the past. Now we feel like “old” cachers. We’re the ones with stories of “way back when” before paperless became the norm, before ALRs were discontinued and disallowed, before “WhereIGo” and other newfangled stuff!

So here we are, part of the past and part of the future. A strange dichotomy, part of both, part of neither. How do you view yourselves in the overall geocaching historical perspective? Are you an “old” cacher or a “new” cacher?

[Braid Beards Gang]

I am with you Sandlanders, stuck in the middle.

We started caching early summer 2007. I remember looking up cache pages and having to wait forever for them to load with a dial-up internet connection. I would write a short description or even sketch a map in a notebook, because I didn’t want to waste computer ink. I then would manually enter the coordinates into my GPSr most of the time with my children impatiently waiting to go search. Things have definitely changed since then.

I feel like you that I am not “new” anymore, but I am not “old” either. I love hearing stories of legendary caches that are long gone, but I find myself telling stories to others of caches that are long gone to them.

I guess that is what is great about this hobby and life. “Old” or “New” doesn’t really matter, everyone has something to offer.

[Buy_The_Tie]

Old…..

[Lostby7]

I started in 04′ which does not make me a veteran cacher but I can tell you there have been lots of changes in not only the caches (elimination of virts, locationless, webcams…)but the quality of the swag has become a joke these days…when I first started it was not uncommon to find quasi-valuable items in a cache; there were things worth trading for. I don’t even bother with trades anymore…I rarely even look through all the junk. Ammo cans are a rarity now…”back in the day” I’d find these fairly often. But things aren’t better or worse today…only different. Caching is still fun and it still takes me to cool places and I guess that is what’s most important for me.

[Mister Greenthumb]

We’re kinda in the middle, but because of the vast amount of friends that we’ve made it seems like much longer than we’ve been at it. Other than activities with our grandkids geocaching and it’s events have become our social life. We have always been outdoor people and the places that the caches take us to only enhances that.

[BakRdz]

Sounds like you are “middle aged” SL and BBG. Are you going through some sort of “mid-caching-life crisis?” 😆

Sincerely,
The Young Punk

P.S. I am starting to notice I’m evolving from “newbie” to…well…a “juvenille” I guess. Less than a year ago, I was so green. (I still feel a little light green most days). Today, I’m finding myself being contacted by a new breed of “newbies” for advice. I think it’s an evolution of experience and perception. To someone with only a few hides and finds, I look like a seasoned vet. But to those of you who have been here for awhile, I’m still a young punk.
😉

[Timberline Echoes]

We can pretty much “echo” Lostby7…. We see our self as the 3rd generation of cachers.
TE

[RSplash40]

I’m not as “old” as many on here but there was a point in time when I almost had appleton cleared out…that makes me feel old :>

[koolma_k]

😉 I would put myself as elementary school age….old enough to know better but young enough to be dangerous 😉

I have only been doing this for about 4 months, 266 caches, 2 socials, 1 placement, 9 adoptions, and a series in the works. I have met some great people, chatted with some great people and have found I like it all (even the mosquitos and the stinging nettle… not so much with the ticks). I have fun explaining caching to others and getting them involved. I love the aspects of getting out into nature and getting excersize with a goal (other than excersizing… that would never get me out of the house on it’s own!!!). It’s all good… I am a kid and still have that wide eyed wonderment of the caching world around me… it’s good to feel young again!! 🙂

[-cheeto-]

I will be purchasing my 4th year of premium membership this week. While that does not make me a “veteran” or “old” cacher it does help frame where I’m at with the hobby. It’s no longer new and exciting for me. There’s no need to rush and grab the ftf or place many new caches. There are newer cachers than me out there. There are older ones. Like Lostby, geocaching still brings me to places I would never find (or visit) on my own and that’s what I now enjoy.

Yeah I’ll grab a few in-town caches from time to time (the list keeps growing), but for the most part they’re just new caches in the same parks (or guardrails) I’ve visited before. I now watch the local caching community more from the side lines than as a “major player”. I try to keep up with what’s going on and who’s who but to be honest, I’ve sort of lost touch. And I’m ok with that. Being a WGA board member keeps me busy enough. I’m still participating in this fine past-time even if you don’t see any new -cheeto- caches or me finding any new caches.

Does that make me old or new?

[TyeDyeSkyGuy]

I started caching in March of 06 and there have been a lot of changes since. I have 600 and some finds, and I think close to, if not 70 hides and held three events, with another planned this fall.

I can’t tell where I fit into this really. Most times when I cache, the radar is working fine, and the finds come easy, but then there’ll be that cache, that no matter how easy it might be, I just can’t locate it no matter my experience. There’s one here in Kenosha that’s been my nemesis for years. And I see noobs finding it all the time. And here I sharpened my teeth in SE Wisconsin on Rogheff finds. 😀

Relating to the tech aspect, I find myself using less of it all the time, as for me, it detracts from the experience. I’d rather be looking at my surroundings than scores of LCD displays. For instance, I started caching with my Magellan Meridian Color, and although I’d love a Colorado or similar, I won’t give up my simple Magellan till it’s dead. “Paperless” to me has always meant; “Bring the GPS, remember everything else”.

So, I guess I’m and old school Nob.

[kungfuhippie]

Color me new, just got into this a month ago. Already addicted to both the caching and coins, doh! 😀 I’ve got about 40 caches found so far including my first event. Looking forward to upcoming events to meet more cachers from around the state.

[glorkar]

I would definitely consider myself a new cacher as I just joined up in September. Though, I don’t think it has much to do with when a person/couple/group started the hobby. I think it may have more to do with a person’s concept and grasp of the whole game. There have been people finding these thing for years and still don’t get it. Then there are people from the latest generation that seem to better understand everything. It’s truly more of a “geocaching maturity level” than an “age.”

[Frizz]

I like to think of my self as an evolving cacher. The more I participate, the more ways I find that I can enjoy different aspects of the game. I found my first caches in April of 2005, and am nearing the 2K mark. At first, finding anything was a thrill. As I spend more time caching, I find the social aspect of caching to be the really enjoyable benefit.

So am I an old or new cacher? I would answer that question the same as Satchel Paige did when asked his age. He replied “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was?”

[amita17]

I signed up in the spring of 2007 but didn’t actually go caching until the fall of 2008. A slow start, but then I became a more frequent cacher. Still, I am what I consider a casual cacher, randomly selecting my targets and easily sidetracked by the weather or other priorities. Timeline-wise, I missed the early days of geocaching, but yet I cache the old-fashioned way. And with many new members joining all the time, I feel old. Still so much to learn, so I feel new. And seeing how the sport is evolving, I once again find myself on the old end of it.

Talk about walking the fence, huh? I prefer to think of myself as beyond definition. 🙂

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