A wise woman who was travelling in the mountains once found a precious jewel lying in a stream. The next day she met a poor traveller who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveller spotted the precious stone and asked her to give it to him. This she did without any hesitation. The traveller then left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the jewel was worth so much that it would give him security for the rest of his life. And yet, a few days later he came back and returned it to the woman.
"I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable this jewel is. But I want to give it back to you in the hope that you will give me something even more precious. Please give me what you have inside you that enabled you to give me this jewel so easily".
For me, one of the greatest aspects of geocaching is the sprit of generosity it creates, even among strangers. You happily find a cache, so you donate some precious swag - content in the warm knowledge that someone else is going to delight in finding it one day in the future. You happily hide a new cache to draw people to a special place in the fresh air, or to give them the pleasure of solving a challenging puzzle. You bestow a Favorite point in gratitude to the person who created the hide, but also to highlight for future finders a cache especially worth tackling. It's just one gift after another, around here.
Generosity and gratitude - both sides of the geocaching coin bring simple joys. And that's something worth increasing in everyone's life.
Perhaps like me you've noticed that an essential point of generosity is to give without expectation of getting anything in return. Otherwise, it's just a commercial transaction in which I am, in effect, buying something (such as the esteem of others). I give a loonie to a homeless guy on the street, secretly hoping someone spots me, or a least that he says "thanks, guv" and waves to me next time I pass. Ho-hum.
I like it better when there is no hint of transaction - like when no one knows that I've given something (because I did it secretly and didn't post anything about it here or on social media). Just place the loonie into his cup and slip away when he's busy looking somewhere else. And all the rest of that day I can carry something warm inside me.
Geocaching has given me many opportunities like this.
With this background, it should come as no surprise that, when you decide to find this cache (like any other cache), you will face the choice to donate something (or not, as you choose). You are under no obligations to put swag into this cache when you find it. No one will know. And any posts here that mention putting or taking swag at the cache may be deleted. No one will know. Only you.
Please do take some swag away with you, if you see something you like. Even if you didn't add anything, you are welcome to take something. It was all placed here by previous GCers just for your pleasure. Isn't that nice to know?
Now go find a big plastic jar with some camo paint!