The state of letterboxing today saddens me. Having had the pleasure
of recently visiting several out of the way letterboxes I noticed
that letterboxes which require more than a mile or two of hiking get
very few visitors. Now this wasn't a surprise to me but what I did
notice is that the older boxes used to get visitors but no longer
do. The obvious reason is that once upon a time there were very few
boxes and letterboxers tended to seek out all the boxes available.
Nowadays, there are so many drive-by boxes few letterboxers seem to
bother looking for anything else. I find this distressing.
Hiking is an integral part of the letterboxing tradition. The
original letterbox at Dartmoor required a significant walk to
obtain. Even today while pub boxes are all over Dartmoor, the real
letterboxing remains out on the moors (pub boxes do not count
towards the Dartmoor 100 club). When letterboxing started in the
United States, boxes were placed in special places, usually
requiring at least a short stroll. Even with the advent of drive-by
boxes, they still were placed in special places where you would - by
choice - linger for a good while to enjoy the scenery or learn some
history. I remember one of the first drive-by boxes I ever found. It
was a box hidden near a lighthouse. The clue was clever, the stamp
wonderful, and the location incredible. Not only was there a
lighthouse to visit, but there was also a short walk down to a rocky
beach where we stayed for a good hour enjoying the tide pools,
spotting seals in the water, and watching birds on the offshore
rocks. Today it seems that boxers quickly simply stamp in at one non-
descript playground and drive on to the next for another box. I hope
that at least they are enjoying the stamp images and not just
looking to raise their F counts.
The proliferation of postal letterboxing also distresses me. There
is nothing wrong with the exchange of art by mail. Indeed, the
first, to my knowledge, postal letterbox was Flutterby. But with
Flutterby, it came to you by surprise: it wasn't something you
competed to sign up for before the list closed. You were grateful to
receive it, and you didn't consider it a letterbox find. Postal
letterboxing is not letterboxing, it is simply an exchange of art by
mail. By all means participate if you like, but please don't confuse
it with letterboxing.
I wish dearly that everyone would take a few minutes to think about
what letterboxing is. The stamp exchange is integral of course, as
is the clue. However, what many people are missing is that the
location of and the journey to the box are also integral. In our
eagerness to share our stamps by planting boxes, we've come to the
point where we've forgotten about the location and journey. In our
eagerness to collect as many stamps as possible, we've come to go
after the easiest boxes to find and thereby missing the beauty of
the locations of and journeys to the more time consuming boxes.
Will anyone else join me in a renewed emphasis on the location and
journey?
Saddness
11 messages in this thread |
Started on 2006-08-25
Saddness
From: Pungent Bob (PungentBob@HotPOP.com) |
Date: 2006-08-25 01:49:58 UTC
Re: [LbNA] Saddness
From: david baril (gingerbreadjunk@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2006-08-24 19:13:17 UTC-07:00
i'll go with the hole hike theory. i like a walk into a beautiful place. every box that i have planted has been someplace nice. but on the other hand, i do try to get as many boxes as i can or used to anyways. time is always someting all of us do not have. as life goes on, we find that time should be spent doing something more important. like spending time with family. i love a good hike. with a 18 month old, and 2 8 year olds, i dont find it reasonable to drag them up a hill/mountain to find a box right now.
dont get me wrong. im with you on some of this, but ive climbed mountains and cant expect everyone else in my group to do the same.
david (team new hampshire)
http://teamnewhampshire.blogspot.com
Pungent Bob wrote:
The state of letterboxing today saddens me. Having had the pleasure
of recently visiting several out of the way letterboxes I noticed
that letterboxes which require more than a mile or two of hiking get
very few visitors. Now this wasn't a surprise to me but what I did
notice is that the older boxes used to get visitors but no longer
do. The obvious reason is that once upon a time there were very few
boxes and letterboxers tended to seek out all the boxes available.
Nowadays, there are so many drive-by boxes few letterboxers seem to
bother looking for anything else. I find this distressing.
Hiking is an integral part of the letterboxing tradition. The
original letterbox at Dartmoor required a significant walk to
obtain. Even today while pub boxes are all over Dartmoor, the real
letterboxing remains out on the moors (pub boxes do not count
towards the Dartmoor 100 club). When letterboxing started in the
United States, boxes were placed in special places, usually
requiring at least a short stroll. Even with the advent of drive-by
boxes, they still were placed in special places where you would - by
choice - linger for a good while to enjoy the scenery or learn some
history. I remember one of the first drive-by boxes I ever found. It
was a box hidden near a lighthouse. The clue was clever, the stamp
wonderful, and the location incredible. Not only was there a
lighthouse to visit, but there was also a short walk down to a rocky
beach where we stayed for a good hour enjoying the tide pools,
spotting seals in the water, and watching birds on the offshore
rocks. Today it seems that boxers quickly simply stamp in at one non-
descript playground and drive on to the next for another box. I hope
that at least they are enjoying the stamp images and not just
looking to raise their F counts.
The proliferation of postal letterboxing also distresses me. There
is nothing wrong with the exchange of art by mail. Indeed, the
first, to my knowledge, postal letterbox was Flutterby. But with
Flutterby, it came to you by surprise: it wasn't something you
competed to sign up for before the list closed. You were grateful to
receive it, and you didn't consider it a letterbox find. Postal
letterboxing is not letterboxing, it is simply an exchange of art by
mail. By all means participate if you like, but please don't confuse
it with letterboxing.
I wish dearly that everyone would take a few minutes to think about
what letterboxing is. The stamp exchange is integral of course, as
is the clue. However, what many people are missing is that the
location of and the journey to the box are also integral. In our
eagerness to share our stamps by planting boxes, we've come to the
point where we've forgotten about the location and journey. In our
eagerness to collect as many stamps as possible, we've come to go
after the easiest boxes to find and thereby missing the beauty of
the locations of and journeys to the more time consuming boxes.
Will anyone else join me in a renewed emphasis on the location and
journey?
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
dont get me wrong. im with you on some of this, but ive climbed mountains and cant expect everyone else in my group to do the same.
david (team new hampshire)
http://teamnewhampshire.blogspot.com
Pungent Bob
The state of letterboxing today saddens me. Having had the pleasure
of recently visiting several out of the way letterboxes I noticed
that letterboxes which require more than a mile or two of hiking get
very few visitors. Now this wasn't a surprise to me but what I did
notice is that the older boxes used to get visitors but no longer
do. The obvious reason is that once upon a time there were very few
boxes and letterboxers tended to seek out all the boxes available.
Nowadays, there are so many drive-by boxes few letterboxers seem to
bother looking for anything else. I find this distressing.
Hiking is an integral part of the letterboxing tradition. The
original letterbox at Dartmoor required a significant walk to
obtain. Even today while pub boxes are all over Dartmoor, the real
letterboxing remains out on the moors (pub boxes do not count
towards the Dartmoor 100 club). When letterboxing started in the
United States, boxes were placed in special places, usually
requiring at least a short stroll. Even with the advent of drive-by
boxes, they still were placed in special places where you would - by
choice - linger for a good while to enjoy the scenery or learn some
history. I remember one of the first drive-by boxes I ever found. It
was a box hidden near a lighthouse. The clue was clever, the stamp
wonderful, and the location incredible. Not only was there a
lighthouse to visit, but there was also a short walk down to a rocky
beach where we stayed for a good hour enjoying the tide pools,
spotting seals in the water, and watching birds on the offshore
rocks. Today it seems that boxers quickly simply stamp in at one non-
descript playground and drive on to the next for another box. I hope
that at least they are enjoying the stamp images and not just
looking to raise their F counts.
The proliferation of postal letterboxing also distresses me. There
is nothing wrong with the exchange of art by mail. Indeed, the
first, to my knowledge, postal letterbox was Flutterby. But with
Flutterby, it came to you by surprise: it wasn't something you
competed to sign up for before the list closed. You were grateful to
receive it, and you didn't consider it a letterbox find. Postal
letterboxing is not letterboxing, it is simply an exchange of art by
mail. By all means participate if you like, but please don't confuse
it with letterboxing.
I wish dearly that everyone would take a few minutes to think about
what letterboxing is. The stamp exchange is integral of course, as
is the clue. However, what many people are missing is that the
location of and the journey to the box are also integral. In our
eagerness to share our stamps by planting boxes, we've come to the
point where we've forgotten about the location and journey. In our
eagerness to collect as many stamps as possible, we've come to go
after the easiest boxes to find and thereby missing the beauty of
the locations of and journeys to the more time consuming boxes.
Will anyone else join me in a renewed emphasis on the location and
journey?
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [LbNA] Saddness
From: ENIC (cireotrue@hotmail.com) |
Date: 2006-08-24 22:48:50 UTC-04:00
I agree with you wholeheartley on this subject. I have over 150 finds and many of them being older original CT boxes. I cannot believe how many there are and how over-saturated CT is with boxes. Mansfield is of deep concern to me. I also Geocache and have recently mapped every geocache in CT. If you take away the map features, all of the boxes make the shape of CT on the software program. Again, distressing at how oversaturated it is. What are we to do? Should we go pick up our litter? Back then it wasn't considered litter but it seems that over density is making many boxes and caches a meaningless venture. Meaningless to me and to others could spell litter. I think regulation is in order.
~The Ram~
----- Original Message -----
From: Pungent Bob
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:49 PM
Subject: [LbNA] Saddness
The state of letterboxing today saddens me. Having had the pleasure
of recently visiting several out of the way letterboxes I noticed
that letterboxes which require more than a mile or two of hiking get
very few visitors. Now this wasn't a surprise to me but what I did
notice is that the older boxes used to get visitors but no longer
do. The obvious reason is that once upon a time there were very few
boxes and letterboxers tended to seek out all the boxes available.
Nowadays, there are so many drive-by boxes few letterboxers seem to
bother looking for anything else. I find this distressing.
Hiking is an integral part of the letterboxing tradition. The
original letterbox at Dartmoor required a significant walk to
obtain. Even today while pub boxes are all over Dartmoor, the real
letterboxing remains out on the moors (pub boxes do not count
towards the Dartmoor 100 club). When letterboxing started in the
United States, boxes were placed in special places, usually
requiring at least a short stroll. Even with the advent of drive-by
boxes, they still were placed in special places where you would - by
choice - linger for a good while to enjoy the scenery or learn some
history. I remember one of the first drive-by boxes I ever found. It
was a box hidden near a lighthouse. The clue was clever, the stamp
wonderful, and the location incredible. Not only was there a
lighthouse to visit, but there was also a short walk down to a rocky
beach where we stayed for a good hour enjoying the tide pools,
spotting seals in the water, and watching birds on the offshore
rocks. Today it seems that boxers quickly simply stamp in at one non-
descript playground and drive on to the next for another box. I hope
that at least they are enjoying the stamp images and not just
looking to raise their F counts.
The proliferation of postal letterboxing also distresses me. There
is nothing wrong with the exchange of art by mail. Indeed, the
first, to my knowledge, postal letterbox was Flutterby. But with
Flutterby, it came to you by surprise: it wasn't something you
competed to sign up for before the list closed. You were grateful to
receive it, and you didn't consider it a letterbox find. Postal
letterboxing is not letterboxing, it is simply an exchange of art by
mail. By all means participate if you like, but please don't confuse
it with letterboxing.
I wish dearly that everyone would take a few minutes to think about
what letterboxing is. The stamp exchange is integral of course, as
is the clue. However, what many people are missing is that the
location of and the journey to the box are also integral. In our
eagerness to share our stamps by planting boxes, we've come to the
point where we've forgotten about the location and journey. In our
eagerness to collect as many stamps as possible, we've come to go
after the easiest boxes to find and thereby missing the beauty of
the locations of and journeys to the more time consuming boxes.
Will anyone else join me in a renewed emphasis on the location and
journey?
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
~The Ram~
----- Original Message -----
From: Pungent Bob
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:49 PM
Subject: [LbNA] Saddness
The state of letterboxing today saddens me. Having had the pleasure
of recently visiting several out of the way letterboxes I noticed
that letterboxes which require more than a mile or two of hiking get
very few visitors. Now this wasn't a surprise to me but what I did
notice is that the older boxes used to get visitors but no longer
do. The obvious reason is that once upon a time there were very few
boxes and letterboxers tended to seek out all the boxes available.
Nowadays, there are so many drive-by boxes few letterboxers seem to
bother looking for anything else. I find this distressing.
Hiking is an integral part of the letterboxing tradition. The
original letterbox at Dartmoor required a significant walk to
obtain. Even today while pub boxes are all over Dartmoor, the real
letterboxing remains out on the moors (pub boxes do not count
towards the Dartmoor 100 club). When letterboxing started in the
United States, boxes were placed in special places, usually
requiring at least a short stroll. Even with the advent of drive-by
boxes, they still were placed in special places where you would - by
choice - linger for a good while to enjoy the scenery or learn some
history. I remember one of the first drive-by boxes I ever found. It
was a box hidden near a lighthouse. The clue was clever, the stamp
wonderful, and the location incredible. Not only was there a
lighthouse to visit, but there was also a short walk down to a rocky
beach where we stayed for a good hour enjoying the tide pools,
spotting seals in the water, and watching birds on the offshore
rocks. Today it seems that boxers quickly simply stamp in at one non-
descript playground and drive on to the next for another box. I hope
that at least they are enjoying the stamp images and not just
looking to raise their F counts.
The proliferation of postal letterboxing also distresses me. There
is nothing wrong with the exchange of art by mail. Indeed, the
first, to my knowledge, postal letterbox was Flutterby. But with
Flutterby, it came to you by surprise: it wasn't something you
competed to sign up for before the list closed. You were grateful to
receive it, and you didn't consider it a letterbox find. Postal
letterboxing is not letterboxing, it is simply an exchange of art by
mail. By all means participate if you like, but please don't confuse
it with letterboxing.
I wish dearly that everyone would take a few minutes to think about
what letterboxing is. The stamp exchange is integral of course, as
is the clue. However, what many people are missing is that the
location of and the journey to the box are also integral. In our
eagerness to share our stamps by planting boxes, we've come to the
point where we've forgotten about the location and journey. In our
eagerness to collect as many stamps as possible, we've come to go
after the easiest boxes to find and thereby missing the beauty of
the locations of and journeys to the more time consuming boxes.
Will anyone else join me in a renewed emphasis on the location and
journey?
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [LbNA] Saddness
From: Team Safari (TeamSafari@msn.com) |
Date: 2006-08-25 02:23:41 UTC-04:00
Hi, Pungent One,
What I'm "hearing" from this post is that you are saddened that not everyone
likes letterboxing for the same reasons you do.
There are still plenty of boxes being placed in great places, and there are
plenty of boxes that require a hike or take you to a special spot. If this
is what you want, then you have it. I don't see a shortage of these.
If you are short on time, or can't afford the gas to get far away to some
scenic area, or it's too hot (or too cold or too wet or too icy), or you are
physically not up to a hike because of health issues or small children in
tow, there are drive-bys, urban boxes, and postal boxes.
If you like the challenge of mysteries or you like straightforward
directions, you can have it, and you can create more for others to seek.
One of the beauties of boxing is that it has different aspects that appeal
to different people. If this distresses you, I can't understand that, but
would urge you to plant and seek more of the boxes you prefer, and let
others enjoy what they like. If you want more boxes for longer hikes or
whatever you feel is good and right about boxing, then create them and seek
them. Letterboxing is constantly evolving. To think that your style of
letterboxing is somehow superior or more pure than what others have come to
enjoy is obviously your prerogative, but it seems a little elitist and
intolerant. There's plenty of room out there for all different types of
boxes for all kinds of boxers.
There may be places where the concentration of letterboxes might get to be a
concern, but if so, I'd hope that you'd be specific about your concerns,
such as where the congestion is and what harm you see being done. The fact
that CT has lots of boxes does not mean that there's a problem. Regardless
of what anyone has said tongue-in-cheek, you cannot walk out your door and
trip over letterboxes, AFAIK. Connecticut is still beautiful and I haven't
see litterboxes strewn about. It seems to me that you are automatically
assuming that a lot of boxes means that little thought or care has gone into
their creation and placement. Again, you can think or feel whatever you'd
like, but I disagree. Plentiful does not mean poor "quality."
If any of us finds that we don't like a cerain type of box or boxes placed
by a certain placer, we can easily choose to not seek these letterboxes. I
don't think we necessarily need a renewed interest or emphasis on the
journey and destination because I see plenty of boxes out there that fit the
bill. People will create and seek that kind of box that they enjoy. That is
how it should be, IMHO. Maybe you are not using enough discretion choosing
the boxes you go after.
Respectfully yours,
Mary
Team Safari
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pungent Bob"
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:49 PM
Subject: [LbNA] Saddness
> The state of letterboxing today saddens me. Having had the pleasure
> of recently visiting several out of the way letterboxes I noticed
> that letterboxes which require more than a mile or two of hiking get
> very few visitors. Now this wasn't a surprise to me but what I did
> notice is that the older boxes used to get visitors but no longer
> do. The obvious reason is that once upon a time there were very few
> boxes and letterboxers tended to seek out all the boxes available.
> Nowadays, there are so many drive-by boxes few letterboxers seem to
> bother looking for anything else. I find this distressing.
>
> Hiking is an integral part of the letterboxing tradition. The
> original letterbox at Dartmoor required a significant walk to
> obtain. Even today while pub boxes are all over Dartmoor, the real
> letterboxing remains out on the moors (pub boxes do not count
> towards the Dartmoor 100 club). When letterboxing started in the
> United States, boxes were placed in special places, usually
> requiring at least a short stroll. Even with the advent of drive-by
> boxes, they still were placed in special places where you would - by
> choice - linger for a good while to enjoy the scenery or learn some
> history. I remember one of the first drive-by boxes I ever found. It
> was a box hidden near a lighthouse. The clue was clever, the stamp
> wonderful, and the location incredible. Not only was there a
> lighthouse to visit, but there was also a short walk down to a rocky
> beach where we stayed for a good hour enjoying the tide pools,
> spotting seals in the water, and watching birds on the offshore
> rocks. Today it seems that boxers quickly simply stamp in at one non-
> descript playground and drive on to the next for another box. I hope
> that at least they are enjoying the stamp images and not just
> looking to raise their F counts.
>
> The proliferation of postal letterboxing also distresses me. There
> is nothing wrong with the exchange of art by mail. Indeed, the
> first, to my knowledge, postal letterbox was Flutterby. But with
> Flutterby, it came to you by surprise: it wasn't something you
> competed to sign up for before the list closed. You were grateful to
> receive it, and you didn't consider it a letterbox find. Postal
> letterboxing is not letterboxing, it is simply an exchange of art by
> mail. By all means participate if you like, but please don't confuse
> it with letterboxing.
>
> I wish dearly that everyone would take a few minutes to think about
> what letterboxing is. The stamp exchange is integral of course, as
> is the clue. However, what many people are missing is that the
> location of and the journey to the box are also integral. In our
> eagerness to share our stamps by planting boxes, we've come to the
> point where we've forgotten about the location and journey. In our
> eagerness to collect as many stamps as possible, we've come to go
> after the easiest boxes to find and thereby missing the beauty of
> the locations of and journeys to the more time consuming boxes.
>
> Will anyone else join me in a renewed emphasis on the location and
> journey?
>
>
What I'm "hearing" from this post is that you are saddened that not everyone
likes letterboxing for the same reasons you do.
There are still plenty of boxes being placed in great places, and there are
plenty of boxes that require a hike or take you to a special spot. If this
is what you want, then you have it. I don't see a shortage of these.
If you are short on time, or can't afford the gas to get far away to some
scenic area, or it's too hot (or too cold or too wet or too icy), or you are
physically not up to a hike because of health issues or small children in
tow, there are drive-bys, urban boxes, and postal boxes.
If you like the challenge of mysteries or you like straightforward
directions, you can have it, and you can create more for others to seek.
One of the beauties of boxing is that it has different aspects that appeal
to different people. If this distresses you, I can't understand that, but
would urge you to plant and seek more of the boxes you prefer, and let
others enjoy what they like. If you want more boxes for longer hikes or
whatever you feel is good and right about boxing, then create them and seek
them. Letterboxing is constantly evolving. To think that your style of
letterboxing is somehow superior or more pure than what others have come to
enjoy is obviously your prerogative, but it seems a little elitist and
intolerant. There's plenty of room out there for all different types of
boxes for all kinds of boxers.
There may be places where the concentration of letterboxes might get to be a
concern, but if so, I'd hope that you'd be specific about your concerns,
such as where the congestion is and what harm you see being done. The fact
that CT has lots of boxes does not mean that there's a problem. Regardless
of what anyone has said tongue-in-cheek, you cannot walk out your door and
trip over letterboxes, AFAIK. Connecticut is still beautiful and I haven't
see litterboxes strewn about. It seems to me that you are automatically
assuming that a lot of boxes means that little thought or care has gone into
their creation and placement. Again, you can think or feel whatever you'd
like, but I disagree. Plentiful does not mean poor "quality."
If any of us finds that we don't like a cerain type of box or boxes placed
by a certain placer, we can easily choose to not seek these letterboxes. I
don't think we necessarily need a renewed interest or emphasis on the
journey and destination because I see plenty of boxes out there that fit the
bill. People will create and seek that kind of box that they enjoy. That is
how it should be, IMHO. Maybe you are not using enough discretion choosing
the boxes you go after.
Respectfully yours,
Mary
Team Safari
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pungent Bob"
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:49 PM
Subject: [LbNA] Saddness
> The state of letterboxing today saddens me. Having had the pleasure
> of recently visiting several out of the way letterboxes I noticed
> that letterboxes which require more than a mile or two of hiking get
> very few visitors. Now this wasn't a surprise to me but what I did
> notice is that the older boxes used to get visitors but no longer
> do. The obvious reason is that once upon a time there were very few
> boxes and letterboxers tended to seek out all the boxes available.
> Nowadays, there are so many drive-by boxes few letterboxers seem to
> bother looking for anything else. I find this distressing.
>
> Hiking is an integral part of the letterboxing tradition. The
> original letterbox at Dartmoor required a significant walk to
> obtain. Even today while pub boxes are all over Dartmoor, the real
> letterboxing remains out on the moors (pub boxes do not count
> towards the Dartmoor 100 club). When letterboxing started in the
> United States, boxes were placed in special places, usually
> requiring at least a short stroll. Even with the advent of drive-by
> boxes, they still were placed in special places where you would - by
> choice - linger for a good while to enjoy the scenery or learn some
> history. I remember one of the first drive-by boxes I ever found. It
> was a box hidden near a lighthouse. The clue was clever, the stamp
> wonderful, and the location incredible. Not only was there a
> lighthouse to visit, but there was also a short walk down to a rocky
> beach where we stayed for a good hour enjoying the tide pools,
> spotting seals in the water, and watching birds on the offshore
> rocks. Today it seems that boxers quickly simply stamp in at one non-
> descript playground and drive on to the next for another box. I hope
> that at least they are enjoying the stamp images and not just
> looking to raise their F counts.
>
> The proliferation of postal letterboxing also distresses me. There
> is nothing wrong with the exchange of art by mail. Indeed, the
> first, to my knowledge, postal letterbox was Flutterby. But with
> Flutterby, it came to you by surprise: it wasn't something you
> competed to sign up for before the list closed. You were grateful to
> receive it, and you didn't consider it a letterbox find. Postal
> letterboxing is not letterboxing, it is simply an exchange of art by
> mail. By all means participate if you like, but please don't confuse
> it with letterboxing.
>
> I wish dearly that everyone would take a few minutes to think about
> what letterboxing is. The stamp exchange is integral of course, as
> is the clue. However, what many people are missing is that the
> location of and the journey to the box are also integral. In our
> eagerness to share our stamps by planting boxes, we've come to the
> point where we've forgotten about the location and journey. In our
> eagerness to collect as many stamps as possible, we've come to go
> after the easiest boxes to find and thereby missing the beauty of
> the locations of and journeys to the more time consuming boxes.
>
> Will anyone else join me in a renewed emphasis on the location and
> journey?
>
>
Re: [LbNA] Saddness
From: (alice.stone@comcast.net) |
Date: 2006-08-25 10:38:55 UTC
Wow !!! The best way i have ever seen it put. Wonderful job. Thank you team safari. The wildcats love all aspects ,this summer i broke my foot so 4 mile hikes out of question ,but watch out cause here we come.
-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Team Safari"
Hi, Pungent One,
What I'm "hearing" from this post is that you are saddened that not everyone
likes letterboxing for the same reasons you do.
There are still plenty of boxes being placed in great places, and there are
plenty of boxes that require a hike or take you to a special spot. If this
is what you want, then you have it. I don't see a shortage of these.
If you are short on time, or can't afford the gas to get far away to some
scenic area, or it's too hot (or too cold or too wet or too icy), or you are
physically not up to a hike because of health issues or small children in
tow, there are drive-bys, urban boxes, and postal boxes.
If you like the challenge of mysteries or you like straightforward
directions, you can have it, and you can create more for others to seek.
One of the beauties of boxing is that it has different aspects that appeal
to different people. If this distresses you, I can't understand that, but
would urge you to plant and seek more of the boxes you prefer, and let
others enjoy what they like. If you want more boxes for longer hikes or
whatever you feel is good and right about boxing, then create them and seek
them. Letterboxing is constantly evolving. To think that your style of
letterboxing is somehow superior or more pure than what others have come to
enjoy is obviously your prerogative, but it seems a little elitist and
intolerant. There's plenty of room out there for all different types of
boxes for all kinds of boxers.
There may be places where the concentration of letterboxes might get to be a
concern, but if so, I'd hope that you'd be specific about your concerns,
such as where the congestion is and what harm you see being done. The fact
that CT has lots of boxes does not mean that there's a problem. Regardless
of what anyone has said tongue-in-cheek, you cannot walk out your door and
trip over letterboxes, AFAIK. Connecticut is still beautiful and I haven't
see litterboxes strewn about. It seems to me that you are automatically
assuming that a lot of boxes means that little thought or care has gone into
their creation and placement. Again, you can think or feel whatever you'd
like, but I disagree. Plentiful does not mean poor "quality."
If any of us finds that we don't like a cerain type of box or boxes placed
by a certain placer, we can easily choose to not seek these letterboxes. I
don't think we necessarily need a renewed interest or emphasis on the
journey and destination because I see plenty of boxes out there that fit the
bill. People will create and seek that kind of box that they enjoy. That is
how it should be, IMHO. Maybe you are not using enough discretion choosing
the boxes you go after.
Respectfully yours,
Mary
Team Safari
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pungent Bob"
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:49 PM
Subject: [LbNA] Saddness
> The state of letterboxing today saddens me. Having had the pleasure
> of recently visiting several out of the way letterboxes I noticed
> that letterboxes which require more than a mile or two of hiking get
> very few visitors. Now this wasn't a surprise to me but what I did
> notice is that the older boxes used to get visitors but no longer
> do. The obvious reason is that once upon a time there were very few
> boxes and letterboxers tended to seek out all the boxes available.
> Nowadays, there are so many drive-by boxes few letterboxers seem to
> bother looking for anything else. I find this distressing.
>
> Hiking is an integral part of the letterboxing tradition. The
> original letterbox at Dartmoor required a significant walk to
> obtain. Even today while pub boxes are all over Dartmoor, the real
> letterboxing remains out on the moors (pub boxes do not count
> towards the Dartmoor 100 club). When letterboxing started in the
> United States, boxes were placed in special places, usually
> requiring at least a short stroll. Even with the advent of drive-by
> boxes, they still were placed in special places where you would - by
> choice - linger for a good while to enjoy the scenery or learn some
> history. I remember one of the first drive-by boxes I ever found. It
> was a box hidden near a lighthouse. The clue was clever, the stamp
> wonderful, and the location incredible. Not only was there a
> lighthouse to visit, but there was also a short walk down to a rocky
> beach where we stayed for a good hour enjoying the tide pools,
> spotting seals in the water, and watching birds on the offshore
> rocks. Today it seems that boxers quickly simply stamp in at one non-
> descript playground and drive on to the next for another box. I hope
> that at least they are enjoying the stamp images and not just
> looking to raise their F counts.
>
> The proliferation of postal letterboxing also distresses me. There
> is nothing wrong with the exchange of art by mail. Indeed, the
> first, to my knowledge, postal letterbox was Flutterby. But with
> Flutterby, it came to you by surprise: it wasn't something you
> competed to sign up for before the list closed. You were grateful to
> receive it, and you didn't consider it a letterbox find. Postal
> letterboxing is not letterboxing, it is simply an exchange of art by
> mail. By all means participate if you like, but please don't confuse
> it with letterboxing.
>
> I wish dearly that everyone would take a few minutes to think about
> what letterboxing is. The stamp exchange is integral of course, as
> is the clue. However, what many people are missing is that the
> location of and the journey to the box are also integral. In our
> eagerness to share our stamps by planting boxes, we've come to the
> point where we've forgotten about the location and journey. In our
> eagerness to collect as many stamps as possible, we've come to go
> after the easiest boxes to find and thereby missing the beauty of
> the locations of and journeys to the more time consuming boxes.
>
> Will anyone else join me in a renewed emphasis on the location and
> journey?
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Team Safari"
Hi, Pungent One,
What I'm "hearing" from this post is that you are saddened that not everyone
likes letterboxing for the same reasons you do.
There are still plenty of boxes being placed in great places, and there are
plenty of boxes that require a hike or take you to a special spot. If this
is what you want, then you have it. I don't see a shortage of these.
If you are short on time, or can't afford the gas to get far away to some
scenic area, or it's too hot (or too cold or too wet or too icy), or you are
physically not up to a hike because of health issues or small children in
tow, there are drive-bys, urban boxes, and postal boxes.
If you like the challenge of mysteries or you like straightforward
directions, you can have it, and you can create more for others to seek.
One of the beauties of boxing is that it has different aspects that appeal
to different people. If this distresses you, I can't understand that, but
would urge you to plant and seek more of the boxes you prefer, and let
others enjoy what they like. If you want more boxes for longer hikes or
whatever you feel is good and right about boxing, then create them and seek
them. Letterboxing is constantly evolving. To think that your style of
letterboxing is somehow superior or more pure than what others have come to
enjoy is obviously your prerogative, but it seems a little elitist and
intolerant. There's plenty of room out there for all different types of
boxes for all kinds of boxers.
There may be places where the concentration of letterboxes might get to be a
concern, but if so, I'd hope that you'd be specific about your concerns,
such as where the congestion is and what harm you see being done. The fact
that CT has lots of boxes does not mean that there's a problem. Regardless
of what anyone has said tongue-in-cheek, you cannot walk out your door and
trip over letterboxes, AFAIK. Connecticut is still beautiful and I haven't
see litterboxes strewn about. It seems to me that you are automatically
assuming that a lot of boxes means that little thought or care has gone into
their creation and placement. Again, you can think or feel whatever you'd
like, but I disagree. Plentiful does not mean poor "quality."
If any of us finds that we don't like a cerain type of box or boxes placed
by a certain placer, we can easily choose to not seek these letterboxes. I
don't think we necessarily need a renewed interest or emphasis on the
journey and destination because I see plenty of boxes out there that fit the
bill. People will create and seek that kind of box that they enjoy. That is
how it should be, IMHO. Maybe you are not using enough discretion choosing
the boxes you go after.
Respectfully yours,
Mary
Team Safari
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pungent Bob"
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:49 PM
Subject: [LbNA] Saddness
> The state of letterboxing today saddens me. Having had the pleasure
> of recently visiting several out of the way letterboxes I noticed
> that letterboxes which require more than a mile or two of hiking get
> very few visitors. Now this wasn't a surprise to me but what I did
> notice is that the older boxes used to get visitors but no longer
> do. The obvious reason is that once upon a time there were very few
> boxes and letterboxers tended to seek out all the boxes available.
> Nowadays, there are so many drive-by boxes few letterboxers seem to
> bother looking for anything else. I find this distressing.
>
> Hiking is an integral part of the letterboxing tradition. The
> original letterbox at Dartmoor required a significant walk to
> obtain. Even today while pub boxes are all over Dartmoor, the real
> letterboxing remains out on the moors (pub boxes do not count
> towards the Dartmoor 100 club). When letterboxing started in the
> United States, boxes were placed in special places, usually
> requiring at least a short stroll. Even with the advent of drive-by
> boxes, they still were placed in special places where you would - by
> choice - linger for a good while to enjoy the scenery or learn some
> history. I remember one of the first drive-by boxes I ever found. It
> was a box hidden near a lighthouse. The clue was clever, the stamp
> wonderful, and the location incredible. Not only was there a
> lighthouse to visit, but there was also a short walk down to a rocky
> beach where we stayed for a good hour enjoying the tide pools,
> spotting seals in the water, and watching birds on the offshore
> rocks. Today it seems that boxers quickly simply stamp in at one non-
> descript playground and drive on to the next for another box. I hope
> that at least they are enjoying the stamp images and not just
> looking to raise their F counts.
>
> The proliferation of postal letterboxing also distresses me. There
> is nothing wrong with the exchange of art by mail. Indeed, the
> first, to my knowledge, postal letterbox was Flutterby. But with
> Flutterby, it came to you by surprise: it wasn't something you
> competed to sign up for before the list closed. You were grateful to
> receive it, and you didn't consider it a letterbox find. Postal
> letterboxing is not letterboxing, it is simply an exchange of art by
> mail. By all means participate if you like, but please don't confuse
> it with letterboxing.
>
> I wish dearly that everyone would take a few minutes to think about
> what letterboxing is. The stamp exchange is integral of course, as
> is the clue. However, what many people are missing is that the
> location of and the journey to the box are also integral. In our
> eagerness to share our stamps by planting boxes, we've come to the
> point where we've forgotten about the location and journey. In our
> eagerness to collect as many stamps as possible, we've come to go
> after the easiest boxes to find and thereby missing the beauty of
> the locations of and journeys to the more time consuming boxes.
>
> Will anyone else join me in a renewed emphasis on the location and
> journey?
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [LbNA] Saddness
From: (Stellabaker123@aol.com) |
Date: 2006-08-25 08:45:58 UTC-04:00
Different strokes for different people is what I say.
My limit is three miles and very little uphill. At 73 and lung problems
this is my limit. I have been to boxes that were drive-bys in very
interesting places- such as Ikia along I 95 in CT. and some in Maine with no walking
at all but a great Butterfly garden: some in historial sites, and museums-
such as a Tribute to Volunteers ( at a fireman's musuem) on Long Island. So let
it be as long as people find enjoyment with letterboxing. They get out in the
park or visit an interesting place locallly or on vacation or visiting
friends and family as I have I think it's a plus. It has been great for me and my
family in NH, Ct. and LI. and on vacation in Maine.
STAR:W+S=DRR
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
My limit is three miles and very little uphill. At 73 and lung problems
this is my limit. I have been to boxes that were drive-bys in very
interesting places- such as Ikia along I 95 in CT. and some in Maine with no walking
at all but a great Butterfly garden: some in historial sites, and museums-
such as a Tribute to Volunteers ( at a fireman's musuem) on Long Island. So let
it be as long as people find enjoyment with letterboxing. They get out in the
park or visit an interesting place locallly or on vacation or visiting
friends and family as I have I think it's a plus. It has been great for me and my
family in NH, Ct. and LI. and on vacation in Maine.
STAR:W+S=DRR
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [LbNA] Saddness
From: (mjpepe1@comcast.net) |
Date: 2006-08-25 13:20:05 UTC
I like the "different strokes for different folks" theory.
I do miss the "old days" but as a realist - those days are gone!
With the advent of publicity - Time Magazine, Family Fun, etc., etc. - this hobby has grown by leaps and bounds. And with that growth has come families and non-hikers and people from many walks of life with different views as to how this game should be played.
With that much diversity of personalities, there was no choice but to see changes in what we once knew. Enter postal letterboxes, drivebys, mega gatherings. It's easy to see why some veterans long for the days of old.
But it's important to look forward as well. There is some excellent, new talent out there. We've seen some great creativity by groups of new boxers - like the Capers, who readily come to mind.
Sure, our addiction is changing - but sometimes for the good! Let's remain positive and box in our own style with those of like mind. And don't forget the basics . . .
JUST HAVE FUN & GET OUT THERE & BOX!!!
Mark
-------------- Original message --------------
From: Stellabaker123@aol.com
Different strokes for different people is what I say.
My limit is three miles and very little uphill. At 73 and lung problems
this is my limit. I have been to boxes that were drive-bys in very
interesting places- such as Ikia along I 95 in CT. and some in Maine with no walking
at all but a great Butterfly garden: some in historial sites, and museums-
such as a Tribute to Volunteers ( at a fireman's musuem) on Long Island. So let
it be as long as people find enjoyment with letterboxing. They get out in the
park or visit an interesting place locallly or on vacation or visiting
friends and family as I have I think it's a plus. It has been great for me and my
family in NH, Ct. and LI. and on vacation in Maine.
STAR:W+S=DRR
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I do miss the "old days" but as a realist - those days are gone!
With the advent of publicity - Time Magazine, Family Fun, etc., etc. - this hobby has grown by leaps and bounds. And with that growth has come families and non-hikers and people from many walks of life with different views as to how this game should be played.
With that much diversity of personalities, there was no choice but to see changes in what we once knew. Enter postal letterboxes, drivebys, mega gatherings. It's easy to see why some veterans long for the days of old.
But it's important to look forward as well. There is some excellent, new talent out there. We've seen some great creativity by groups of new boxers - like the Capers, who readily come to mind.
Sure, our addiction is changing - but sometimes for the good! Let's remain positive and box in our own style with those of like mind. And don't forget the basics . . .
JUST HAVE FUN & GET OUT THERE & BOX!!!
Mark
-------------- Original message --------------
From: Stellabaker123@aol.com
Different strokes for different people is what I say.
My limit is three miles and very little uphill. At 73 and lung problems
this is my limit. I have been to boxes that were drive-bys in very
interesting places- such as Ikia along I 95 in CT. and some in Maine with no walking
at all but a great Butterfly garden: some in historial sites, and museums-
such as a Tribute to Volunteers ( at a fireman's musuem) on Long Island. So let
it be as long as people find enjoyment with letterboxing. They get out in the
park or visit an interesting place locallly or on vacation or visiting
friends and family as I have I think it's a plus. It has been great for me and my
family in NH, Ct. and LI. and on vacation in Maine.
STAR:W+S=DRR
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
RE: [LbNA] Saddness
From: MARobb (MARobb@cox.net) |
Date: 2006-08-25 10:00:35 UTC-04:00
We letterbox with a 3 year old and sometimes with a 62 year old. This
limits our hikes. Longer hikes are ok as long as they are flat. But mostly
we like to go to drive bys to new places we have never experienced and on
walks about 1 mile or 2. This is about all we can expect from a 3 year old.
Boy do we have fun! The clues, the interesting places we learn about, the
excitement of the find. We don't need to hike half a day to the middle of
no where.
I cannot tell you how much letterboxing has enriched our lives. It makes
every place we go magical.
As our child gets older, we will be able to do more difficult letterboxes.
For now, easier ones are perfect for us.
Perhaps it's not what was intended, but the way letterboxing is now has
brought us so much joy.
RIFamily
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.0.375 / Virus Database: 268.11.3/423 - Release Date: 8/18/2006
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Saddness
From: funhog1 (funhog@pacifier.com) |
Date: 2006-08-25 16:14:41 UTC
I can certainly relate to Pungent Bob's dismay. There are so many
wonderful letterboxes here in the PNW that are rarely visited because
they are located on long hikes. Some of them are historical, e.g.
Green Tortuga's first stamp carving at Ramona Falls or the very first
letterbox ever hidden in Oregon by Green Hornet. Others are on
not-to-be-missed scenic hikes, such as the Eagle Creek Trail.
Granted, not everyone is able to make these treks but few have even
tried! Searching for some of these letterboxes is the very thing that
has allowed me to build up my abilities as a longer distance hiker. I
certainly wasn't fit enough to do them when I first started boxing but
can do them today. Encouraging folks to rack up their number of finds
in order to be listed on a website or receive a patch seems to
aggravate the problem. If you "need" to get your F count to 500 you
will naturally seek all the easy boxes and pass on the ones that might
reward you with only one during a day's outing.
I read the commentary on Postal boxes not as criticism of the practice
but as pointing out that this is a variant of the time honored hobby
of mail art. It's a mystery to me how one of these ever came to be
called a "letterbox." The definition of a letterbox in the LbNA FAQs
clearly states that a letterbox must consist of a clue, a stamp and a
log. One of the three is clearly missing with the postals. It's a
great hobby for those who participate but isn't letterboxing at all in
my book.
Pungent Bob has hidden some of the most creative of letteboxes to be
found. Few of them are on exhausting mega-mile hikes. The locations
are always interesting and the journey both mental and physical are
always good fun. He has created a couple of series that encourage
other boxers to add on their own creations. You should see the
wonderful collection his Musician's Series has become! He has never
been elitist or exclusive in any way, quite the opposite.
I, for one, will answer his call to pay attention to the location and
journey. That doesn't mean I will be hiding many boxes on far distant
trails but I will continue to try to hide all my letterboxes in
locations that are significant in some way. I like to consider
letterboxing as physical exercise, a grand alternative to the gym. As
long as I'm lucky enough to have the health to allow, I will be on the
trail to those distant boxes others have hidden for us to find. Keep
'em coming! Funhog
wonderful letterboxes here in the PNW that are rarely visited because
they are located on long hikes. Some of them are historical, e.g.
Green Tortuga's first stamp carving at Ramona Falls or the very first
letterbox ever hidden in Oregon by Green Hornet. Others are on
not-to-be-missed scenic hikes, such as the Eagle Creek Trail.
Granted, not everyone is able to make these treks but few have even
tried! Searching for some of these letterboxes is the very thing that
has allowed me to build up my abilities as a longer distance hiker. I
certainly wasn't fit enough to do them when I first started boxing but
can do them today. Encouraging folks to rack up their number of finds
in order to be listed on a website or receive a patch seems to
aggravate the problem. If you "need" to get your F count to 500 you
will naturally seek all the easy boxes and pass on the ones that might
reward you with only one during a day's outing.
I read the commentary on Postal boxes not as criticism of the practice
but as pointing out that this is a variant of the time honored hobby
of mail art. It's a mystery to me how one of these ever came to be
called a "letterbox." The definition of a letterbox in the LbNA FAQs
clearly states that a letterbox must consist of a clue, a stamp and a
log. One of the three is clearly missing with the postals. It's a
great hobby for those who participate but isn't letterboxing at all in
my book.
Pungent Bob has hidden some of the most creative of letteboxes to be
found. Few of them are on exhausting mega-mile hikes. The locations
are always interesting and the journey both mental and physical are
always good fun. He has created a couple of series that encourage
other boxers to add on their own creations. You should see the
wonderful collection his Musician's Series has become! He has never
been elitist or exclusive in any way, quite the opposite.
I, for one, will answer his call to pay attention to the location and
journey. That doesn't mean I will be hiding many boxes on far distant
trails but I will continue to try to hide all my letterboxes in
locations that are significant in some way. I like to consider
letterboxing as physical exercise, a grand alternative to the gym. As
long as I'm lucky enough to have the health to allow, I will be on the
trail to those distant boxes others have hidden for us to find. Keep
'em coming! Funhog
Re: [LbNA] Saddness
From: pennypenny_sl (chancey@cablespeed.com) |
Date: 2006-08-26 05:18:26 UTC
I, too, agree with Team Safari. There are plenty (and the more the better,) of boxes out
there for all kinds of boxers! I personally, LOVE hiking... and therefore love the idea of how
letterboxing "used" to be in it's earlier form. But it is, indeed, evolving and I think for
better; not worse. I personally cannot do the long hikes I love -- at least not in this phase
of my life. I really look forward to them when I retire, however; and I know the boxes will
be there. In the meantime, I'm very grateful that there are all these short-hike or drive-by
boxes: We hunt the close-to-home boxes, the ones that only take an hour or two's outing
time, and have as much fun as we can fit into our busy schedules. I also PLACE my boxes
in similar spots (parks, areas where the kids and I frequent,) because that is what works
for me now. Later, when I have more time, I'm sure my plants can become more elaborate
and further out in the woods, so to speak.
There's boxes for everyone out there and we can pick and choose them as it suits us :-)
This is a good thing!
PennyPenny
South Lyon, MI
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, alice.stone@... wrote:
>
> Wow !!! The best way i have ever seen it put. Wonderful job. Thank you team safari.
The wildcats love all aspects ,this summer i broke my foot so 4 mile hikes out of question
,but watch out cause here we come.
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: "Team Safari"
> Hi, Pungent One,
>
> What I'm "hearing" from this post is that you are saddened that not everyone
> likes letterboxing for the same reasons you do.
>
> There are still plenty of boxes being placed in great places, and there are
> plenty of boxes that require a hike or take you to a special spot. If this
> is what you want, then you have it. I don't see a shortage of these.
>
> If you are short on time, or can't afford the gas to get far away to some
> scenic area, or it's too hot (or too cold or too wet or too icy), or you are
> physically not up to a hike because of health issues or small children in
> tow, there are drive-bys, urban boxes, and postal boxes.
>
> If you like the challenge of mysteries or you like straightforward
> directions, you can have it, and you can create more for others to seek.
>
> One of the beauties of boxing is that it has different aspects that appeal
> to different people. If this distresses you, I can't understand that, but
> would urge you to plant and seek more of the boxes you prefer, and let
> others enjoy what they like. If you want more boxes for longer hikes or
> whatever you feel is good and right about boxing, then create them and seek
> them. Letterboxing is constantly evolving. To think that your style of
> letterboxing is somehow superior or more pure than what others have come to
> enjoy is obviously your prerogative, but it seems a little elitist and
> intolerant. There's plenty of room out there for all different types of
> boxes for all kinds of boxers.
>
> There may be places where the concentration of letterboxes might get to be a
> concern, but if so, I'd hope that you'd be specific about your concerns,
> such as where the congestion is and what harm you see being done. The fact
> that CT has lots of boxes does not mean that there's a problem. Regardless
> of what anyone has said tongue-in-cheek, you cannot walk out your door and
> trip over letterboxes, AFAIK. Connecticut is still beautiful and I haven't
> see litterboxes strewn about. It seems to me that you are automatically
> assuming that a lot of boxes means that little thought or care has gone into
> their creation and placement. Again, you can think or feel whatever you'd
> like, but I disagree. Plentiful does not mean poor "quality."
>
> If any of us finds that we don't like a cerain type of box or boxes placed
> by a certain placer, we can easily choose to not seek these letterboxes. I
> don't think we necessarily need a renewed interest or emphasis on the
> journey and destination because I see plenty of boxes out there that fit the
> bill. People will create and seek that kind of box that they enjoy. That is
> how it should be, IMHO. Maybe you are not using enough discretion choosing
> the boxes you go after.
>
> Respectfully yours,
>
> Mary
> Team Safari
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Pungent Bob"
> To:
> Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:49 PM
> Subject: [LbNA] Saddness
>
> > The state of letterboxing today saddens me. Having had the pleasure
> > of recently visiting several out of the way letterboxes I noticed
> > that letterboxes which require more than a mile or two of hiking get
> > very few visitors. Now this wasn't a surprise to me but what I did
> > notice is that the older boxes used to get visitors but no longer
> > do. The obvious reason is that once upon a time there were very few
> > boxes and letterboxers tended to seek out all the boxes available.
> > Nowadays, there are so many drive-by boxes few letterboxers seem to
> > bother looking for anything else. I find this distressing.
> >
> > Hiking is an integral part of the letterboxing tradition. The
> > original letterbox at Dartmoor required a significant walk to
> > obtain. Even today while pub boxes are all over Dartmoor, the real
> > letterboxing remains out on the moors (pub boxes do not count
> > towards the Dartmoor 100 club). When letterboxing started in the
> > United States, boxes were placed in special places, usually
> > requiring at least a short stroll. Even with the advent of drive-by
> > boxes, they still were placed in special places where you would - by
> > choice - linger for a good while to enjoy the scenery or learn some
> > history. I remember one of the first drive-by boxes I ever found. It
> > was a box hidden near a lighthouse. The clue was clever, the stamp
> > wonderful, and the location incredible. Not only was there a
> > lighthouse to visit, but there was also a short walk down to a rocky
> > beach where we stayed for a good hour enjoying the tide pools,
> > spotting seals in the water, and watching birds on the offshore
> > rocks. Today it seems that boxers quickly simply stamp in at one non-
> > descript playground and drive on to the next for another box. I hope
> > that at least they are enjoying the stamp images and not just
> > looking to raise their F counts.
> >
> > The proliferation of postal letterboxing also distresses me. There
> > is nothing wrong with the exchange of art by mail. Indeed, the
> > first, to my knowledge, postal letterbox was Flutterby. But with
> > Flutterby, it came to you by surprise: it wasn't something you
> > competed to sign up for before the list closed. You were grateful to
> > receive it, and you didn't consider it a letterbox find. Postal
> > letterboxing is not letterboxing, it is simply an exchange of art by
> > mail. By all means participate if you like, but please don't confuse
> > it with letterboxing.
> >
> > I wish dearly that everyone would take a few minutes to think about
> > what letterboxing is. The stamp exchange is integral of course, as
> > is the clue. However, what many people are missing is that the
> > location of and the journey to the box are also integral. In our
> > eagerness to share our stamps by planting boxes, we've come to the
> > point where we've forgotten about the location and journey. In our
> > eagerness to collect as many stamps as possible, we've come to go
> > after the easiest boxes to find and thereby missing the beauty of
> > the locations of and journeys to the more time consuming boxes.
> >
> > Will anyone else join me in a renewed emphasis on the location and
> > journey?
>
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
there for all kinds of boxers! I personally, LOVE hiking... and therefore love the idea of how
letterboxing "used" to be in it's earlier form. But it is, indeed, evolving and I think for
better; not worse. I personally cannot do the long hikes I love -- at least not in this phase
of my life. I really look forward to them when I retire, however; and I know the boxes will
be there. In the meantime, I'm very grateful that there are all these short-hike or drive-by
boxes: We hunt the close-to-home boxes, the ones that only take an hour or two's outing
time, and have as much fun as we can fit into our busy schedules. I also PLACE my boxes
in similar spots (parks, areas where the kids and I frequent,) because that is what works
for me now. Later, when I have more time, I'm sure my plants can become more elaborate
and further out in the woods, so to speak.
There's boxes for everyone out there and we can pick and choose them as it suits us :-)
This is a good thing!
PennyPenny
South Lyon, MI
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, alice.stone@... wrote:
>
> Wow !!! The best way i have ever seen it put. Wonderful job. Thank you team safari.
The wildcats love all aspects ,this summer i broke my foot so 4 mile hikes out of question
,but watch out cause here we come.
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: "Team Safari"
> Hi, Pungent One,
>
> What I'm "hearing" from this post is that you are saddened that not everyone
> likes letterboxing for the same reasons you do.
>
> There are still plenty of boxes being placed in great places, and there are
> plenty of boxes that require a hike or take you to a special spot. If this
> is what you want, then you have it. I don't see a shortage of these.
>
> If you are short on time, or can't afford the gas to get far away to some
> scenic area, or it's too hot (or too cold or too wet or too icy), or you are
> physically not up to a hike because of health issues or small children in
> tow, there are drive-bys, urban boxes, and postal boxes.
>
> If you like the challenge of mysteries or you like straightforward
> directions, you can have it, and you can create more for others to seek.
>
> One of the beauties of boxing is that it has different aspects that appeal
> to different people. If this distresses you, I can't understand that, but
> would urge you to plant and seek more of the boxes you prefer, and let
> others enjoy what they like. If you want more boxes for longer hikes or
> whatever you feel is good and right about boxing, then create them and seek
> them. Letterboxing is constantly evolving. To think that your style of
> letterboxing is somehow superior or more pure than what others have come to
> enjoy is obviously your prerogative, but it seems a little elitist and
> intolerant. There's plenty of room out there for all different types of
> boxes for all kinds of boxers.
>
> There may be places where the concentration of letterboxes might get to be a
> concern, but if so, I'd hope that you'd be specific about your concerns,
> such as where the congestion is and what harm you see being done. The fact
> that CT has lots of boxes does not mean that there's a problem. Regardless
> of what anyone has said tongue-in-cheek, you cannot walk out your door and
> trip over letterboxes, AFAIK. Connecticut is still beautiful and I haven't
> see litterboxes strewn about. It seems to me that you are automatically
> assuming that a lot of boxes means that little thought or care has gone into
> their creation and placement. Again, you can think or feel whatever you'd
> like, but I disagree. Plentiful does not mean poor "quality."
>
> If any of us finds that we don't like a cerain type of box or boxes placed
> by a certain placer, we can easily choose to not seek these letterboxes. I
> don't think we necessarily need a renewed interest or emphasis on the
> journey and destination because I see plenty of boxes out there that fit the
> bill. People will create and seek that kind of box that they enjoy. That is
> how it should be, IMHO. Maybe you are not using enough discretion choosing
> the boxes you go after.
>
> Respectfully yours,
>
> Mary
> Team Safari
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Pungent Bob"
> To:
> Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:49 PM
> Subject: [LbNA] Saddness
>
> > The state of letterboxing today saddens me. Having had the pleasure
> > of recently visiting several out of the way letterboxes I noticed
> > that letterboxes which require more than a mile or two of hiking get
> > very few visitors. Now this wasn't a surprise to me but what I did
> > notice is that the older boxes used to get visitors but no longer
> > do. The obvious reason is that once upon a time there were very few
> > boxes and letterboxers tended to seek out all the boxes available.
> > Nowadays, there are so many drive-by boxes few letterboxers seem to
> > bother looking for anything else. I find this distressing.
> >
> > Hiking is an integral part of the letterboxing tradition. The
> > original letterbox at Dartmoor required a significant walk to
> > obtain. Even today while pub boxes are all over Dartmoor, the real
> > letterboxing remains out on the moors (pub boxes do not count
> > towards the Dartmoor 100 club). When letterboxing started in the
> > United States, boxes were placed in special places, usually
> > requiring at least a short stroll. Even with the advent of drive-by
> > boxes, they still were placed in special places where you would - by
> > choice - linger for a good while to enjoy the scenery or learn some
> > history. I remember one of the first drive-by boxes I ever found. It
> > was a box hidden near a lighthouse. The clue was clever, the stamp
> > wonderful, and the location incredible. Not only was there a
> > lighthouse to visit, but there was also a short walk down to a rocky
> > beach where we stayed for a good hour enjoying the tide pools,
> > spotting seals in the water, and watching birds on the offshore
> > rocks. Today it seems that boxers quickly simply stamp in at one non-
> > descript playground and drive on to the next for another box. I hope
> > that at least they are enjoying the stamp images and not just
> > looking to raise their F counts.
> >
> > The proliferation of postal letterboxing also distresses me. There
> > is nothing wrong with the exchange of art by mail. Indeed, the
> > first, to my knowledge, postal letterbox was Flutterby. But with
> > Flutterby, it came to you by surprise: it wasn't something you
> > competed to sign up for before the list closed. You were grateful to
> > receive it, and you didn't consider it a letterbox find. Postal
> > letterboxing is not letterboxing, it is simply an exchange of art by
> > mail. By all means participate if you like, but please don't confuse
> > it with letterboxing.
> >
> > I wish dearly that everyone would take a few minutes to think about
> > what letterboxing is. The stamp exchange is integral of course, as
> > is the clue. However, what many people are missing is that the
> > location of and the journey to the box are also integral. In our
> > eagerness to share our stamps by planting boxes, we've come to the
> > point where we've forgotten about the location and journey. In our
> > eagerness to collect as many stamps as possible, we've come to go
> > after the easiest boxes to find and thereby missing the beauty of
> > the locations of and journeys to the more time consuming boxes.
> >
> > Will anyone else join me in a renewed emphasis on the location and
> > journey?
>
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
Re: Saddness
From: Lightnin Bug (rpboehme@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2006-08-27 13:59:05 UTC
Most of what the Pungent one says is valid. Considering the boxes
with longer or energetic hikes (many of the older boxes), or those
boxes involving a mystery (such as any of the Maprsurfers we have
found), the finds are accompanied by a much greater sense fo
accomplishment than others. We do try to plant some more mentally
and physically challenging boxes to accompany what I call "family
boxes". That way, our little neck of the woods will have a variety
of opportunities for boxers of all levels and desires to be able to
satisfy their boxing wants.
As I think we can all agree upon, variety is the spice of life.
However; do not fear the classic box that may push you beyond your
pre-perceived limitations mentally and physically. You may just
surprise yourself and be greatly rewarded.
LB
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Pungent Bob"
wrote:
>
> The state of letterboxing today saddens me. Having had the pleasure
> of recently visiting several out of the way letterboxes I noticed
> that letterboxes which require more than a mile or two of hiking
get
> very few visitors. Now this wasn't a surprise to me but what I did
> notice is that the older boxes used to get visitors but no longer
> do. The obvious reason is that once upon a time there were very few
> boxes and letterboxers tended to seek out all the boxes available.
> Nowadays, there are so many drive-by boxes few letterboxers seem to
> bother looking for anything else. I find this distressing.
>
> Hiking is an integral part of the letterboxing tradition. The
> original letterbox at Dartmoor required a significant walk to
> obtain. Even today while pub boxes are all over Dartmoor, the real
> letterboxing remains out on the moors (pub boxes do not count
> towards the Dartmoor 100 club). When letterboxing started in the
> United States, boxes were placed in special places, usually
> requiring at least a short stroll. Even with the advent of drive-by
> boxes, they still were placed in special places where you would -
by
> choice - linger for a good while to enjoy the scenery or learn some
> history. I remember one of the first drive-by boxes I ever found.
It
> was a box hidden near a lighthouse. The clue was clever, the stamp
> wonderful, and the location incredible. Not only was there a
> lighthouse to visit, but there was also a short walk down to a
rocky
> beach where we stayed for a good hour enjoying the tide pools,
> spotting seals in the water, and watching birds on the offshore
> rocks. Today it seems that boxers quickly simply stamp in at one
non-
> descript playground and drive on to the next for another box. I
hope
> that at least they are enjoying the stamp images and not just
> looking to raise their F counts.
>
> The proliferation of postal letterboxing also distresses me. There
> is nothing wrong with the exchange of art by mail. Indeed, the
> first, to my knowledge, postal letterbox was Flutterby. But with
> Flutterby, it came to you by surprise: it wasn't something you
> competed to sign up for before the list closed. You were grateful
to
> receive it, and you didn't consider it a letterbox find. Postal
> letterboxing is not letterboxing, it is simply an exchange of art
by
> mail. By all means participate if you like, but please don't
confuse
> it with letterboxing.
>
> I wish dearly that everyone would take a few minutes to think about
> what letterboxing is. The stamp exchange is integral of course, as
> is the clue. However, what many people are missing is that the
> location of and the journey to the box are also integral. In our
> eagerness to share our stamps by planting boxes, we've come to the
> point where we've forgotten about the location and journey. In our
> eagerness to collect as many stamps as possible, we've come to go
> after the easiest boxes to find and thereby missing the beauty of
> the locations of and journeys to the more time consuming boxes.
>
> Will anyone else join me in a renewed emphasis on the location and
> journey?
>
with longer or energetic hikes (many of the older boxes), or those
boxes involving a mystery (such as any of the Maprsurfers we have
found), the finds are accompanied by a much greater sense fo
accomplishment than others. We do try to plant some more mentally
and physically challenging boxes to accompany what I call "family
boxes". That way, our little neck of the woods will have a variety
of opportunities for boxers of all levels and desires to be able to
satisfy their boxing wants.
As I think we can all agree upon, variety is the spice of life.
However; do not fear the classic box that may push you beyond your
pre-perceived limitations mentally and physically. You may just
surprise yourself and be greatly rewarded.
LB
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Pungent Bob"
wrote:
>
> The state of letterboxing today saddens me. Having had the pleasure
> of recently visiting several out of the way letterboxes I noticed
> that letterboxes which require more than a mile or two of hiking
get
> very few visitors. Now this wasn't a surprise to me but what I did
> notice is that the older boxes used to get visitors but no longer
> do. The obvious reason is that once upon a time there were very few
> boxes and letterboxers tended to seek out all the boxes available.
> Nowadays, there are so many drive-by boxes few letterboxers seem to
> bother looking for anything else. I find this distressing.
>
> Hiking is an integral part of the letterboxing tradition. The
> original letterbox at Dartmoor required a significant walk to
> obtain. Even today while pub boxes are all over Dartmoor, the real
> letterboxing remains out on the moors (pub boxes do not count
> towards the Dartmoor 100 club). When letterboxing started in the
> United States, boxes were placed in special places, usually
> requiring at least a short stroll. Even with the advent of drive-by
> boxes, they still were placed in special places where you would -
by
> choice - linger for a good while to enjoy the scenery or learn some
> history. I remember one of the first drive-by boxes I ever found.
It
> was a box hidden near a lighthouse. The clue was clever, the stamp
> wonderful, and the location incredible. Not only was there a
> lighthouse to visit, but there was also a short walk down to a
rocky
> beach where we stayed for a good hour enjoying the tide pools,
> spotting seals in the water, and watching birds on the offshore
> rocks. Today it seems that boxers quickly simply stamp in at one
non-
> descript playground and drive on to the next for another box. I
hope
> that at least they are enjoying the stamp images and not just
> looking to raise their F counts.
>
> The proliferation of postal letterboxing also distresses me. There
> is nothing wrong with the exchange of art by mail. Indeed, the
> first, to my knowledge, postal letterbox was Flutterby. But with
> Flutterby, it came to you by surprise: it wasn't something you
> competed to sign up for before the list closed. You were grateful
to
> receive it, and you didn't consider it a letterbox find. Postal
> letterboxing is not letterboxing, it is simply an exchange of art
by
> mail. By all means participate if you like, but please don't
confuse
> it with letterboxing.
>
> I wish dearly that everyone would take a few minutes to think about
> what letterboxing is. The stamp exchange is integral of course, as
> is the clue. However, what many people are missing is that the
> location of and the journey to the box are also integral. In our
> eagerness to share our stamps by planting boxes, we've come to the
> point where we've forgotten about the location and journey. In our
> eagerness to collect as many stamps as possible, we've come to go
> after the easiest boxes to find and thereby missing the beauty of
> the locations of and journeys to the more time consuming boxes.
>
> Will anyone else join me in a renewed emphasis on the location and
> journey?
>