What I’ve learned while Geocaching March 8, 2005 ~ 12:37 pm
Posted by Julie in : Daily Grind , comments closed
Snow cave over creek, Woodstock, NY
Busy as hell here this morning, between insane profs and deans, and a fuck-up that I made yesterday. As soon as I realized what I had done, though, I went to my boss and explained what I had done wrong and how I thought we could fix it. That’s the best way to ensure that you don’t get fired, I’ve found. It’s only when you try to hide your mistake that you get into trouble. A lot like when I was little and cut a hole in the box springs on my mom’s bed, then tried to fix the hole with Scotch Tape. I’ve got news for the people at 3M - your tape isn’t invisible. And you’d better believe my ass got in trouble because I tried to hide it. But that’s a story for another day.
Today you get a light fluff post because that’s all I’ve got time for. You get to find out what I’ve learned in my past week of Geocaching. Aren’t you excited? I’ve learned:
- While even a blind monkey may sometimes find a coconut (ie, how I found my first cache with a map and a lot of luck), it’s better to be a sighted monkey (ie, have a GPS receiver).
- Satellite reception in Manhattan is insane. The only place where it’s really reliable is Central Park. Thank you, Frederick Law Olmsted, for this respite from the buildings.
- 9 year olds get really excited about Geocaching. Really, really excited. And it’s amazing what they want to take in trade from a cache (hi-bounce balls, rocks, English money, a $100 dollar bill eraser).
- 12 year olds, not so excited. But they really like to use the GPSr. And they like the buttons that are sometimes left in caches.
- 50 year olds, the GPSr is like crack to them. They will pretend that the Geocaching is semi-boring, and then get really excited when you find, say, a pass from the World Premiere of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
- I am short. Caches that are hidden above my head drive me nuts when I search for 20 minutes before finding them.
- There are way too many Muggles (non-Geocachers) in Central Park. They’re everywhere. Freakin’ Muggles.
- Learn how to actually use the GPSr befor going Geocaching. Do not let the 9 year old’s excitement coax you into leaving the apartment before you have learned how to use the GPSr. Otherwise finding a cache takes a reaaaaally long time, and it’s hit and miss.
- There are 8 bazillion geocachers out looking for the same caches as you. Especially if it’s a new cache. If you can’t find the cache, someone else probably has it in their pocket and is waiting for you to leave so they can hide it again (this happened to me last night).
- There is not enough daylight this time of year to go Geocaching after you commute from Brooklyn to Manhattan.
- Corresponding to this, you can’t find a cache in Central Park at twilight. Ain’t happening.
- Bring a fucking flashlight if you decide to disregard this rule. Because your cellphone and GPSr don’t put out enough light to make it worth reaching your hand under a rock to look for a cache. Especially when “Park Elves” are rustling in the undergrowth nearby.
- Geocachers are a welcoming community. If you post on the boards, expect to be welcomed. And if there’s a meet-up planned, you’re gonna get an invite. Especially a meet-up at a bar, where you can get a GeoCoin for buying one of them a drink.
There you go. That’s what I’ve learned. To be continued.
