Do you know what geocaching is? It’s a recreational activity where you tap into a billion-dollar satellite system to get GPS coordinates to hunt for hidden objects. Those objects can be as small as the end of your pinkie to as big as an ice cooler. Geocaches are hidden all over the world under logs, bridges, rocks, benches, and a plethora of places. Sometimes they are disguised as electrical boxes going nowhere, padlocks, bird houses, or pieces of bark on the side of a tree. Some are under the bases of light poles or inside a hollow screw. Sometimes they are so well disguised that you may never find them without someone showing you.
The tools for this hobby are a handheld GPS and gas…lots of gas. Seems like an odd hobby for someone who sometimes can’t find the butter in the refrigerator or his socks on the bed. My theory is men love it because of the thrill of the hunt. No animals or guns involved, just good shoes and gloves when you have to stick your hand into yucky places. Bagging a geocache is very rewarding, and there are no limits or licenses required.
Hubby was introduced to the hobby of geocaching by his uncle and now he enjoys searching for those hidden gems. This past week, he spent several days in North Dakota geocaching with his uncle. Reports say they both had a fabulous time. Hubby found over 60 of them.
Coming back from a doctor’s appointment this past week, I watched Hubby driving away from home with someone. He didn’t have to tell me where he was going. Without a doubt, he was headed out geocaching. He and his friend wanted to be “first to find” on four new geocaches. Bragging rights come with being the first to find new ones. Anytime a new one is posted, I imagine the whole geocaching community dropping what they’re doing and heading straight for it like sharks heading for bloody prey.
When we visited London in 2014, the first morning we were there, he dragged me down to Trafalgar Square. I thought we were touring the city. No, we were there to get a geocache hidden inside the skirt of a streetlight. In Salzburg, Austria, he got our tour guide to help him find a geocache lock on the bridge over the river. No opportunity for geocaching is wasted.
He now spends a lot of his time, cruising around South Dakota and neighboring states hunting for them. In the winter, he scours Texas. There are additional bragging rights and prestige for getting geocaches in every county in a state. For places like South Dakota (66) and Wyoming (23), that’s not hard, but Texas (254), it may take a while and many miles.
I’m very happy Hubby has a hobby. He’s made a lot of friends doing it. It’s not that expensive, and it’s challenging, with opportunities for brain and physical exercise. That’s what everyone needs in retirement.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalms 90:12
I know what u mean mencan’t find things anywhere. Lari would not like Craig’s hobby. He would have to get out of his chair. Love your chats