11/8/09 Update:
The property owners (my parents) have communicated the cache
location and purpose to all the neighbors, all of whom are
intrigued and a little tickled to be "in on the secret". If you see
some locals be friendly. They'll probably be friendly back.
A Little Background
I’m a dog lover. I don’t have any of my own but I love other
people’s dogs, especially when they are barking at me to stay off
their lawn. What I love even more on a cache hunt is the thrill of
being mistaken for a Peeping Tom, a burglar casing someone’s house
or just a plain old trespasser. It’s why we all play, really, for
the thrill!
Let’s be honest; you love it too. You know you do because there are
hundreds of these hides in the area with thousands of finds logged
on them. You don’t look forward to a simple public property cache
under a lamp post skirt or a secluded hide with a view the same way
you do a homeowner and his friends Smith and Wesson. The fun is in
having the neighbors see you trample their flowers and rifling
through their mailbox.
Here’s your opportunity for one more of the same. Don’t worry about
the Rottweiler, the owner keeps him indoors occasionally, next to
the ammo. I’m pretty sure the neighbors won’t mind.
Frown-O-Meter™ Rating: 4
What’s Wrong With It?
In a game where the goal is to get your tush out and on the trail,
having a cache in a neighborhood seems about as far from the intent
as one could get. But really: this is someone’s front yard we’re
caching in here, not the back 40. Could we get this to stop?
Please? If nothing else, think of the neighbors. They’re all
muggles anyway.
How Do You Fix That Again?
If you just HAVE to hide it in the front yard, plaster that
information and the owner’s agreement all over the cache
description. Better yet, hide it in a location that is out of
sight, easily accessible without trespass and has no possible way
of casting suspicion on the cacher. I did all these things for this
hide. Remember, people don’t read the description until it’s too
late.
Better Choices in the Area
Get your rear out of the neighborhood and go exploring. Here’s a
few worth the trip
- GC1NCCG, Splendid Series (there are several of
these)
- GCTEAZ, Taking a Drive on Old 395 (series, if you just
love
drive-ups)
- GC1BR1Z, Old Glory (still in a neighborhood, but just out
of
earshot)