Geocaching

Technology is often used to enable us to accomplish more tasks more easily and in a shorter amount of time.  We don't usually think of using technology to turn some simplistic idea into, shall we say, an unnecessarily complicated task.  However, this is basically the concept of geocaching.  For some reason, a lot of people are doing it, and for some reason it's really fun.

Not that geocaching is terribly difficult most of the times, but the idea that someone hides something "near" a general set of gps coordinates, does not give you a map or much of any other kind of information about what you're looking for, and says "go find it!" seems to me to be unnecessarily complicated.  But this is why geocaching is fun.  Even kids are doing it, so it can't be that hard, right?

You use technology in a way that does not make it simple for you.  There is work involved, you are in the outdoors, and there is a sense of adventure and exploration we don't get from anything else.  We can't find a new continent or discover a new piece of land nobody has found before (generally speaking of course), but we can venture out into a community and find some hidden piece of its identity.  For instance, the geocache that we found we less than half of a mile away from where I currently live, and that is walking distance, not even drawing a straight line.  These are hidden in plain sight, and that is part of what makes them so cool.

It can also be a great way to explore a new place when you aren't quite sure where you want to go.  Say you're on vacation and looking for something to do to burn an hour or two.  What are you going to do?  Why not geocache?!  There is likely one within 20 minutes or so of you, depending on where you are, and if there isn't, maybe you want to start one?

Personally, I would put mine at the top of a tree.  Then, when they got there, it would just have a small map attached to the tree that guided the way to the actual geocache.... which would be buried 6 feet down about a mille away, up a hill.  But that's just me.

Geocaching is all about being a part of a community hidden in plain sight, and being a part of some insider knowledge not everyone is aware of.  The community can be accessed by anyone, but those that are truly out for an adventure are the ones who will take advantage of this free and interesting piece of cyber culture.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a completely unrelated note, this is now my new favorite memes on the internet.  It has to be one of the better ones for sure.  Some of these probably represent me, so I'm not sure that's a great thing, but oh well.  Take a look for yourself!