--- In letterbox-usa@y..., twograysquirrels@a... wrote:

> I have pretty much stopped adding hitchikers to boxes because there
are so many out there now. I do move them if I find them, I'm just
not adding to the collection. Some of that thrill of finding them has
gone with so many out there.

I agree completely, Squirrel.

I know of a fellow boxer who found the same hitchhiker 3 times this
year, all in different locations. Let's try NOT to make them
commonplace, huh? Remember, you can have too much of a good thing.
Overdoing hitchhikers and mystery boxes can take the sparkle out of
it, IMHO.

-Valerie

> Overdoing hitchhikers and mystery boxes can take the sparkle out of
> it, IMHO.

Or, as Ralph Nader said, "Al Gore cost me the election" :-) 95% of
the boxes listed on the LbNA web site are non-hitchhiker, non-mystery,
so perhaps it is those "normal" types of boxes which are being
overdone :-)

As the hobby continues to mature here, I think we have the luxury of
ignoring the boxes we don't like, pretending they don't exist, and
hopefully everyone will still find enough that sparkle to their
taste ... don't let the boxes you don't like take away from the fun
of the boxes you do like ...

As an aside, I've always maintained that a problem with hitchhikers
was all the kibitzing and tracking surrounding them. If they had
remained a relative secret, the mystery and mystique for the finder
alone to experience in the thrill of the hunt and discovery, perhaps
people would not be jaded now. Who knows? They certainly would be
less common. For all the other secrets out there now (and they are
out there, as many of you know), and those to come, preserving the
mystery and mystique can be fun, I think ... we'll see ...

Cheers,
--
randy "the mapsurfer" (P33F118)
mapsurfer letterboxes: http://www.mapsurfer.com/boxes/

Alright, alright, Randy. I KNEW I was gonna catch some flack for
that. If about 1 in every 20 boxes out there is a "hitchiker"
or "mystery", maybe that's not excessive. But then again, it's all a
matter of perspective. I STILL maintain they could become all too
common.

You did bring up a good point when you said:
> I've always maintained that a problem with hitchhikers was all the
> kibitzing and tracking surrounding them. If they had remained a
> relative secret, the mystery and mystique for the finder
> alone to experience in the thrill of the hunt and discovery,
> perhaps people would not be jaded now.

Yeah, I would say that some discretion would be nice when it comes to
discussing hitchhikers. (WE TALK TOO MUCH.)

There seems to be almost an air of distinction to the English version
of the sport. A degree of sophistication---that we in the US are
lacking. (I'm sure I'll get jumped on for that one.) The
term "venerable" has been mentioned numerous times on this site to
describe UK letterboxing. We on this side of the pond are forging out
our own version of letterboxing. BUT: I think we could benefit from
knowing the accepted Old World rules of letterbox etiquette. We could
take some and leave others. Perhaps some input from our friend the
Moorland Wizard could enlighten us more about their customs.

I could be wrong, but I'm guessing that the Dartmoor 'boxers don't
announce what "traveler" was found by who, where, and when and record
it in a database, do they?


Isn't it enough to know that travelers are out there somewhere just
waiting to be stumbled upon to delight some lucky letterboxer's heart?

-Valerie

--- In letterbox-usa@y..., twograysquirrels@a... wrote:
> Hi,
> > I think my next stamp should be a high horse. I'll duplicate the
one I'm getting off of now.
>
>Don't come down for too long, Squirrel. You have great points to
make. The creativity you and others bring to this activity is an
inspiration. Your York River #2 box was my first found, so for me
that one will always hold a certain excitement. I remember you told
me how special York River #1 was to you, and I'm sorry I never got to
see it. Your advice to try to place more than one in a location has
always stuck with me. Had you not done that at York River, I'd have
had a very disappointed Katybug with me! I try to keep that in mind
when I'm planting boxes. I'm hoping for some time this long weekend
to get north to add a few more of yours and the G Man's to my
journal. BTW, Jay mentioned your fall...I hope you're elbow is
recovering well. Be careful out there!

Kathy

--- In letterbox-usa@y..., Randy Hall wrote:
> As the hobby continues to mature here, I think we have the luxury
of
> ignoring the boxes we don't like, pretending they don't exist, and
> hopefully everyone will still find enough that sparkle to their
> taste ... don't let the boxes you don't like take away from the fun
> of the boxes you do like ...
>
Well said. I, for one, get more joy out of trying to solve, and find
(or never find :-)) _one_ mystery box, than collecting 10 "drive-by"
stamps. On the other hand, I'm also thankful for these easier boxes
for when I'm out with the kids. I do believe there can never be
enough mystery boxes. (Most, I think, boxes on Dartmoor we would
consider mystery boxes, and there are tens of thousands of them, and
we have a huge nation to work with...) There are several boxes I've
been working on (not regularly, but once in a while) for almost 2
years now, and when I find one of those, it'll be worth more to me
than many of the easier ones. And I also know there are some I'll
never find, but I'm having fun trying to solve the clues anyway...

Lone Wolf

Jay C. and all:

I agree--hitchhikers are one thing and mystery boxes are quite
another. I'm with you -I believe that mystery boxes are a
fundamental, even essential - part of the game. My comments and
concerns regarding proliferation was really about hitchhikers, not
mystery boxes.

I'm currently working on one of Randy's wonderful mysteries right
now. And if I solve it, I'd love to brag openly about it. But,
Webster's defines the word "decorum" as: "the conventions of polite
behavior."

So if and when I solve that mystery box, I'll be quiet about it,
though it will probably take decorum, discretion, AND duct tape.


-Valerie

Howdy Folks!

Some of you all East of the Rockies have a bit of an analysis paralysis over
this hitchhiker/travelling box etiquette rules and regulations stuff. Maybe
I'm just so fresh at this I can't help get excited and bubble over in
e-mails. This can't be a solemn, silent sport for me! I've got too much
enthusiasm for it. Since I've gotten involved in this hobby I have yet to
snag a hitchhiker and I'll be SO PUMPED when I do! Out here in the Wild,
Wild West I don't think they come so easy as every five minutes in
Connecticut. At least not so far.

Anyway...I don't know about mystery boxes. I suspect Mapsurfer's finds are
true treasures because the clues are probably cryptic and take some thinking
and skill. The boxes I've put out there are about as obvious as the nose on
your face. Some would say that's not very challenging, but I'm as bad as a
kid and I get kind of disappointed if I don't find what I'm hunting for, and
for that reason my boxes are probably not much of a thrill for real
letterboxing "purists". I'm getting better at carving the images, though,
so there's your incentive, I hope!

When it comes to letterboxing I can't get too technical or detail-oriented.
I just want to have a good time. That's what it's all about for me and I'd
like it to be that way for others I introduce this cool hobby to!!!

Best regards,

Amanda Briles
aka The Paisley Orca