100 Finds! Life Lessons Learned from Geocaching
Posted on May 15 2017
We started Geocaching a year ago. I can't even remember how or where I first heard about it.
But it sounded like it would be a fun outdoor activity to do with my kids.
After the first one I was hooked. And I said to myself, I want to do 100 of these.
On Mother’s Day, we achieved my goal! As I look back on the 100 times my kids and
I have gone into the woods, on the side of the road or looking on a parking lot for a geocache,
I realized there is so much about Geocaching that can be applied to real life.
Some are obvious, are few are not. Here they are, enjoy.
Be prepared. Stealing from Boy Scouts of America on this one.
Bring a water bottle and first aid kit. Make sure you phone is charged.
Feed your kids, not the bears. Plan your route. I botched this one on this last outing.
I was so excited to go out and get my 100th find, I neglected to look at the posted
trail map or pay any attention to trail markers.
#newbiemistake
or
#lostinthewoods
Mostly
#imsoembarrassed
Get in touch with your inner explorer. Geocaching a parking lot is certainly not like being a guest on Survivorman.
But there is something exciting about bushwhacking off the path to find your cache.
Some of the best things in life you find when you let yourself go off the commonly traveled road.
Re-purpose skills you’ve learned elsewhere. Recently, I used animal tracking skills my
dear husband has taught me to find a Geocache. What, you say? I knew from the
activity log that recently two people had been to this spot, our GPS was not
functioning correctly, so we were just wandering around, in fun little circles.
Finally, I stopped, took a deep look around and realized there was crush marks in the
greens from the previous cachers. They basically left a trail to the Geocache.
Sometimes things aren't always what they seem. This is a game of illusion.
Fake tree branches, screws and bolts that serve no purpose other than to hold the Geocache.
At times it boggles the mind, when you’re struggling to find the trick you’re willingly engaging in.
You’re like Steve Jobs out there: Think Different.
Pirates have it all wrong. When you find that cache with all the baubles and gems to
look at and trade for there is always a scream of victory. Geocaching treasure are
dollar store items, at best. But that has never mattered to us.
It's not the monetary value of the treasure that matters, is the joy of the journey.
Patience. The name of one of my favorite songs and my most challenging emotion.
What a total buzz kill when you can’t find the cache. You’re wandering around,
usually walking in circles, you know it is there…within feet. But you just can’t find it.
It happens to the best of us. One cache I have been to three times.
Still no dice.
Brought my smartie pants brother.
Still no dice. But my ego is less bruised.
So, I leave frustrated and think about it from a different perspective and go back
and try again. Patience really is a virtue.
My daughter found six caches in row yesterday. When I asked her what her secret
was (besides the five-leaf clover she also found that day), she replied
“I’m curious about everything”
Well said, my dear.
Go on, my peeps, live your live with a desire to think different, a strong will to survive,
explore with gusto. Be Prepared. Bushwhack through life’s challenges. Practice patience.
And most of all be curious.
My Geocaching name is “Petunia221970” catch me if you can!
Peace, Kim
Kim is a momma, wife and small business owner.
She lives with her family in Dutchess County, NY, where she enjoys her rescue dog, bunny and chickens. Her family loves camping, hiking, geocaching, and all things Cub and Boy Scouting. She is the owner/creator of Three Sisters Herbals, LLC., which she affectionately calls “her other baby”. TSH is the same age as her youngest human baby, and they are all growing up together.
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3 comments
Never heard of geocoaching before this, but this has made it sound really interesting! Sounds like you had a blast. :)
I never heard of geocaching. Sounds like fun.
Awesome that your daughter is curious about everything. Curiosity takes you far in life. Sounds like she got that trait from her mom.