In my household, when birthdays or Christmastime approaches, we don't hint around at what we might like-- we sorta' "place an order" for a gift that we'd like to receive. Admittedly, it's not as much fun as getting an unexpected surprise, but it also is a way to avoid disappointment.
10 years ago when Mr.CallaLily asked what I might want for Christmas, I didn't really have anything on my wish list. I didn't know what to tell him.
As the holiday got closer, he really began to pester me about it. I remembered hearing about geocaching, and I always thought that it sounded like fun. I had never even checked out the website though, because without a GPS I knew I'd be frustrated at not being able to participate in the activity. Remember, this was before the era of smartphones when all you need to do to try geocaching is get an app and go. In 2009, you needed a GPS, which meant an investment of more than $100.
I asked for a GPS.
It was 10 years ago on December 27, 2009 that I went out and found my first geocache. It was a life-changer to be sure!
When I was a kid, I spent lots of time exploring the woods behind our house and was quite a tomboy, but when I became an adult, my life became rather sedentary. Geocaching got me off the couch and into the woods again! I had forgotten how much I loved the outdoors!
I've discovered so many beautiful and interesting places-- both close to home, and not-so-close-to-home-- all because of geocaching.
But perhaps the greatest of the treasures that I have found over the last 10 years are the many, many wonderful friends that I have made.
Thank you to geocaching for all of this, and thank you to all of you who place geocaches for me to find. I am forever grateful.