Geopause, also known as Mid Cacher Crisis, is an affliction many geocachers suffer after a decade or two of geocaching. It is more pronounced in seasoned geocachers although it has been seen in all adults. The early stages of Geopause are often overlooked. Stages of Geopause to look for: 1) The Introspective Phase There is a time in a geocacher's career they realize the goals they set out early in their geocaching life have not been fulfilled. There may be Challenge grids left unaccomplished. They may lament over the lack of finds in other states, provinces or other countries. Geocachers begin to feel that their find count is inadequate and DNF's become a greater source of stress. It's during this period geocachers become withdrawn. You may find them on their phones or desktop computers looking at far-off geocache hides around the world. Depression often sets in. 2) The Blame Phase Children who loved geocaching in elementary school undoubtedly find other interests in their teens. Their unwillingness to go geocaching with mom or dad becomes a source of frustration. Spouses who obliged the geocacher's obsession while dating have become too busy with other tasks during marriage. Work and home life tend to be seen as an antithesis to geocaching. At this stage geocachers begin to lash out. The family's lack of geocaching related enthusiasm is blamed for a seemingly low smiley count and the geocacher will exhibit a range of emotions from sulking to temper tantrums to absolute rage. Be this as it may, this is still considered an internalized phase as it is unclear if the geocacher truly knows the motivations behind his or her emotional outbursts. 3) The Fancy 4X4 Phase. Behavior will substantially change at this point. Geocachers may buy a whole new cammo-based wardrobe or acquire the most expensive GPS. The need to geocache farther from home might urge a soccer mom car trade-in to a high powered 4X4 -- and they will proudly parade their vehicle from Event to Event making sure all will see it with the bait of a car travel bug tag. Their hides will revert from micros to regulars while their cammos become more elaborate. Still, the geo-related upgrades are only compensation. The feeling of inadequacy remains. 4) The Anger Phase During this phase the geocacher may chastise the geocaching community itself -- complaining internally at the lack of favourite points for what they believe are the best geocache hides ever. The geocacher may secretly accuse those with higher smiley counts as primarily bogus finds. This is also known as the catch-up phase as the find count for the inflicted geocacher increases over previous years. The degree to which this behavior is exhibited varies among individuals but it ranges from severe to bat crap crazy. For many geocachers this is the final stage. 5) Acceptance Few geocachers with documented cases of Geopause have been known to reach this phase. It is acceptance that some goals are unattainable. Geocachers find solice for what they have accomplished and find comfort in their current status within the geocaching community. The need to be the fastest to the FTF or to have more smilies than their neighbors tend to vanish. Geocaching reverts from a lifestyle to a game. Be aware of the stages of Geopause and do your best to be patient with those inflicted. [Source](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCAX80J_geopsychology-101-geopause-or-mid-cacher-crisis)
Phlogiston Now • 100%
Any area I've cached, there have always been plently of caches that don't require a TOTT -- so no, you don't need one, but it might come in handy, depending on what you want to find.
Around where I live, probably the most common TOTT is a long pole to get caches down from trees. Don't exchange this for a ladder -- a lot of the caches are up in thin spindly trees growing on uneven ground. They're designed for you to get them with a pole, with both feet on the ground. You can buy golf ball retrievers for not too much money at a sporting goods store, these usually work well.
Other TOTTs I've seen are batteries for gadget caches or a UV flashlight. If you read the cache page, you should be able to get a sense of what you need. But every so often, a cache owner will get creative and make you use something you've never thought of before ;)
Geocaching HQ created a souvenir for geocachers to celebrate the September equinox. To earn this souvenir, geocachers must find a total of 3 geocaches, Event Caches, and/or Adventure Lab® Locations between September 22–28, 2024. [https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2024/09/celebrating-the-september-equinox/](https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2024/09/celebrating-the-september-equinox/)
Phlogiston Now • 80%
Had to check it out on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.westnordost.streetcomplete
That looks pretty cool! Love that you can play it like a game as a team. I need to try this out
Just saw this post via the cross-stitching community, and thought it'd fit perfect here too! Anyone use such a device to find magnetic nanos? Or is there a different tool of the trade you never go without? [https://mastodon.social/@Stitch26/113150645821886853](https://mastodon.social/@Stitch26/113150645821886853) "Mechanics normally use a #Mechanics Telescoping Magnetic Pick-Up Tool 2 pick up small bolts & other metal that have fallen as they work, but those who #CrossStitch, #Sew, #Quilt, etc., can use it to pick up lost pins & needles so they don't wind up goosing someone when they sit on the couch. 😅 Can be found in almost any automotive store or automotive tool section in Walmart. Some versions even have flashlights on the end!"
Phlogiston Now • 75%
Yes, there were two others you could get -- one at some low number of points, and another at 100 I believe
Phlogiston Now • 75%
Yes! Beach clean-up are always a good time where I am. I've made some pretty strange garbage finds over the years -- keeps things entertaining when you find microwaves, kiddie pools, toilets and more in the woods!
Everyone who found at least one cache during the challenge was awarded a souvenir today. Was anyone following the 'Cosmic Quest' souvenir challenge? Do you feel like it led you to cache more, or did you mostly ignore it? [https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2024/09/we-have-achieved-lift-off/](https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2024/09/we-have-achieved-lift-off/)
I was running my fingers along this metal ledge trying to find a magnetic nano cache. Came across something quite different instead - yikes! Luckily I wasn't stung, but got out of there in a hurry and left that one unfound
Phlogiston Now • 75%
I did not know they offered free trials -- that's awesome, glad you are enjoying it so far!
This video made me think of this community. Fixing a camping chair and stool with Tyvek is pretty inventive, as well as sewing a tent with the material!
"You have most certainly passed a geocache without knowing it. [...] This right-under-your-nose scavenger hunt reminds us that there is still much to discover in the world, and the community of people in Door County who enjoy the activity is alive and well. I have always been drawn to geocaching and the everyday ingenuity it can inspire. People get absurdly creative with how and where they hide their containers; one cache in my hometown is hidden inside a fake sprinkler head."
Only worth about $1 USD, but a pretty cool find -- in Canada and nowhere near its country of origin
Had to use up some kitchen leftovers today. Super pleased with how it turned out! In the making: 
Phlogiston Now • 75%
Cute! Was the cache inside on of the little houses?
Phlogiston Now • 80%
Got to get them hooked early on!
Phlogiston Now • 85%
I found a nano cache inside of a padlock once. The part where the key would go was drilled out, and replaced with a tiny cache container. Took me ages, awesome find.
Phlogiston Now • 80%
I've gotten Tim Hortons gift cards for FTF before, that was pretty nice. Pins are also always cool to find
I'm ashamed to say it still took me 10 minutes to find this one
Spent over an hour looking for this cache recently. Very subtle under the moss!
Taken around 11:30 Friday night, although the picture sure doesn't do the real thing justice
This impressive pile was all collected in one day in my neighborhood
Phlogiston Now • 83%
I did a mixture of these 3 recipes,
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https://www.alphafoodie.com/simple-ginger-marmalade-ginger-jam/#wprm-recipe-container-33888
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https://untoldrecipesbynosheen.com/spiced-citrus-ginger-marmalade/#recipe
I'll try to do a write-up, but was mostly flying by the seat of my pants...
5 large (about the size of my hand) pieces of ginger 2 lemons 1/2 navel orange 2.5 cups sugar 1 packet gelatin Cloves, star anise, turmeric
Cut ginger into slices and simmer for 30 minutes. Drain, but save the cooking water as ginger tea, with a bit of sugar added. The last 10 minutes, I added some cloves and star anise to the simmering pot, but the flavour wasn't really noticeable in the final product, so may want to try adding them sooner. Then puree the boiled ginger in a blender - could probably skip this step if chopped small enough, but I don't really like chewy pieces in my jam
Cut 1/4" off the ends of the lemons, then quarter them, and slice as thinly as possible, removing seeds as you go (I used the lemons whole, pith and all, surprisingly it wasn't too bitter at all).
Peel 1/2 orange with a peeler and cut the peel into small pieces. Remove the pith, quarter and slice the orange thinly (I didn't use the pith this time because it is so much thicker)
Simmer the lemons, orange, ginger, sugar and a pinch of turmeric for 45 minutes. I started with 2 cups of sugar and 30 minutes cooking time, but it just wasn't thickening up, so I added another 1/2 cup of sugar, gelatin, and cooked for another 15 mins and it turned out nice and thick.
Made 3.5 jars total
Good luck!
A batch of ginger & citrus marmalade I made today, plus some ginger tea as a byproduct! 
Phlogiston Now • 75%
This doesn't see to be showing up across instances !geocaching@lemmy.world
Phlogiston Now • 100%
Phlogiston Now • 50%
For me, I started doing it alone and it kept me sane during Covid lockdown. After events started back up again, I met a bunch of people, and haven't really solo cached since then
Phlogiston Now • 66%
It happened. I planned for it in 2020, but got very sick (probably Covid) that week. I have been waiting 8 years for this chance!
Phlogiston Now • 75%
Thank you! I've just made a lemmy.world account. @Brazen_Earthquake@lemmy.world
Phlogiston Now • 66%
That's great, thank you!
Phlogiston Now • 100%
Phlogiston Now • 75%
That's a shame! Do you ever go to geocaching events? I find they get the most logs there, although I have spotted the odd one out in the wild
Phlogiston Now • 100%
Hey, that's awesome! Hope your kid will enjoy it