Thing is, when you make the experience about the box to the point
where you're more than a little disappointed if one is missing or un-
findable for whatever reason, you're setting yourself up. It's like
deciding to be disappointed, then complaining that you're
disappointed. We all know that boxes will be elusive, whether it's
because we can't figure out the clue or because an animal has dragged
the box off. That's part of the deal. Yes, letterboxing is different
from hiking, but it's not at all likely that any LBer will go for too
long without coming off a trail with an Attempted instead of a
Find..... It's our choice how to handle that and allowing it to
frustrate you too much instead of making it a fleeting twinge may be
a sign that you'd prefer a more certain hobby. No biggie.

pezpam

On Aug 12, 2007, at 6:26 PM, RIFamily wrote:

> I just wrote a long email about why we box etc... but I erased it,
> opting
> instead to get right to the point of my thoughts.
>
> Without finding letterboxes we are all "just" hikers. SO... even
> if the
> hike, the cool location etc, is part of the fun, we are boxers! We
> want to
> find letterboxes. We do!
>
> I feel bad that every time someone expresses disappointment at not
> finding a
> box they are told to just be happy with the journey.
>
> Ultimately, we are letterboxers. At least I am.
>
> RIFamily
>
> regarding
> It's about the journey, the stamp is simply the physical memory!
> and
> I really like finding the box, but being brought to a nice location or
> learning a little known local history is way more important to me
> and
> all the millions of other times someone talks about the journey as
> most
> important

Hey, just tell 'em get in touch with me. I'll commiserate with 'em!

It's all about the stamp for me. The stamp image is NOT just the physical
memory for me. It's NOT about the journey for me. I journey all the time
without needing a stamp image for the memory.

What WE'VE done is to give ourselves a booby prize. We figure out a booby
prize before we head out. For example, if it's 110 degrees in the shade, we
might decide that if we DON'T find the box, we'll stop afterwards for two of
the biggest chocolate sundaes we can possibly find. Or we might stop off
for a swim at the health club even tho we really don't have the time. Or we
might buy concert tickets we might otherwise consider skipping due to the
cost. Etc. And if we find the box(s), then NO booby prize. Because a
booby prize doesn't mean anything if it's not a booby prize. :-)

And, as some other poster suggested, nope, sorry, I don't need to find
another interest. I'm just peachy keen happy with letterboxing.

If an author I normally love suddenly puts out a novel that I feel is far
less than their normal talent, am I disappointed? Sure. Will I stop
reading their books? Nope. The next one might be right back up there
talent-wise.

If I'm handling my dog poorly at an agility competition and don't qualify on
the agility course, am I disappointed? Sure. Seriously so. Has it kept me
off agility courses? Nope. At least not in a few decades yet. The next
trial I just might have my act together and we get a great score.

If someone from another state emails me and asks me to photograph the
tombstone of an ancestor and I get to the cemetery to find stones badly
vandalised, including the one I set out to photograph, am I disappointed?
Sure. Does it stop me from trying to help the next person who emails me?
Nope. The next request might find THAT stone to be absolutely beautiful.

If the next Johnny Depp movie is a dud, will I be disappointed? Sure. Will
that stop me from going to his movies? Nope. His next movie might be
fantastic.

Why do some folks see it to be so absolutely horrible to be disappointed
once in a while? That doesn't mean a person doesn't get over it and move
on. Ya get disappointed......ya might vent about it some.........ya move
on. If a letterboxer committed suicide over a box not found, OK, there
might be something wrong with THAT picture. But there's nothing wrong with
being disappointed.

~~ Mosey ~~

-----Original Message-----
From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of RIFamily
Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 5:27 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] hiking VS boxing


I just wrote a long email about why we box etc... but I erased it, opting
instead to get right to the point of my thoughts.

Without finding letterboxes we are all "just" hikers. SO... even if the
hike, the cool location etc, is part of the fun, we are boxers! We want to
find letterboxes. We do!

I feel bad that every time someone expresses disappointment at not finding a
box they are told to just be happy with the journey.

Ultimately, we are letterboxers. At least I am.

RIFamily

regarding
It's about the journey, the stamp is simply the physical memory!
and
I really like finding the box, but being brought to a nice location or
learning a little known local history is way more important to me
and
all the millions of other times someone talks about the journey as most
important
__

LOVE the booby prize idea.

I suspect that the poster you're referring to is me. I actually think
you and I are on similar wavelengths on this. I did not suggest that
any disappointment meant someone should stop letterboxing, but that
if the disappointment was coloring their experience so much that it
was an issue *for them*, it might be time to reconsider. I think I
even implied that yes, not finding a box is disappointing. Like you,
all I said was that how you handle that disappointment will decide
how it affects your experience.

pezpam

On Aug 12, 2007, at 7:49 PM, xxxxxxxx wrote:

> What WE'VE done is to give ourselves a booby prize. We figure out
> a booby
> prize before we head out. For example, if it's 110 degrees in the
> shade, we
> might decide that if we DON'T find the box, we'll stop afterwards
> for two of
> the biggest chocolate sundaes we can possibly find. Or we might
> stop off
> for a swim at the health club even tho we really don't have the
> time. Or we
> might buy concert tickets we might otherwise consider skipping due
> to the
> cost. Etc. And if we find the box(s), then NO booby prize.
> Because a
> booby prize doesn't mean anything if it's not a booby prize. :-)
>
> And, as some other poster suggested, nope, sorry, I don't need to find
> another interest. I'm just peachy keen happy with letterboxing.
>
> If an author I normally love suddenly puts out a novel that I feel
> is far
> less than their normal talent, am I disappointed? Sure. Will I stop
> reading their books? Nope. The next one might be right back up there
> talent-wise.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

well said Mosey...as has been said before, not all art lasts forever, just as letterboxes. For example today, we took the kids out for boxes, and went 3 out of 4, missing only 1...but we had fun, got away from TV, and explored a park that I had no idea had trails.

I am more of a hiker, than a letterboxer, and prefer long tough hikes..so finding a box while I do such is a good bonus...If its missing, carry on, and enjoy the day.

If you dont set you goals high, you'll never be dissapointed...thus finding art in the woods, is just an added bonus to me...

For boxes that I want to last, I keep clues WOM, or make hard clues.

BD

xxxxxxxx wrote:
Hey, just tell 'em get in touch with me. I'll commiserate with 'em!

It's all about the stamp for me. The stamp image is NOT just the physical
memory for me. It's NOT about the journey for me. I journey all the time
without needing a stamp image for the memory.

What WE'VE done is to give ourselves a booby prize. We figure out a booby
prize before we head out. For example, if it's 110 degrees in the shade, we
might decide that if we DON'T find the box, we'll stop afterwards for two of
the biggest chocolate sundaes we can possibly find. Or we might stop off
for a swim at the health club even tho we really don't have the time. Or we
might buy concert tickets we might otherwise consider skipping due to the
cost. Etc. And if we find the box(s), then NO booby prize. Because a
booby prize doesn't mean anything if it's not a booby prize. :-)

And, as some other poster suggested, nope, sorry, I don't need to find
another interest. I'm just peachy keen happy with letterboxing.

If an author I normally love suddenly puts out a novel that I feel is far
less than their normal talent, am I disappointed? Sure. Will I stop
reading their books? Nope. The next one might be right back up there
talent-wise.

If I'm handling my dog poorly at an agility competition and don't qualify on
the agility course, am I disappointed? Sure. Seriously so. Has it kept me
off agility courses? Nope. At least not in a few decades yet. The next
trial I just might have my act together and we get a great score.

If someone from another state emails me and asks me to photograph the
tombstone of an ancestor and I get to the cemetery to find stones badly
vandalised, including the one I set out to photograph, am I disappointed?
Sure. Does it stop me from trying to help the next person who emails me?
Nope. The next request might find THAT stone to be absolutely beautiful.

If the next Johnny Depp movie is a dud, will I be disappointed? Sure. Will
that stop me from going to his movies? Nope. His next movie might be
fantastic.

Why do some folks see it to be so absolutely horrible to be disappointed
once in a while? That doesn't mean a person doesn't get over it and move
on. Ya get disappointed......ya might vent about it some.........ya move
on. If a letterboxer committed suicide over a box not found, OK, there
might be something wrong with THAT picture. But there's nothing wrong with
being disappointed.

~~ Mosey ~~

-----Original Message-----
From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of RIFamily
Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 5:27 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] hiking VS boxing

I just wrote a long email about why we box etc... but I erased it, opting
instead to get right to the point of my thoughts.

Without finding letterboxes we are all "just" hikers. SO... even if the
hike, the cool location etc, is part of the fun, we are boxers! We want to
find letterboxes. We do!

I feel bad that every time someone expresses disappointment at not finding a
box they are told to just be happy with the journey.

Ultimately, we are letterboxers. At least I am.

RIFamily

regarding
It's about the journey, the stamp is simply the physical memory!
and
I really like finding the box, but being brought to a nice location or
learning a little known local history is way more important to me
and
all the millions of other times someone talks about the journey as most
important
__









---------------------------------
Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha!
Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Pamela Smith wrote:

> Thing is, when you make the experience about the box to the point
> where you're more than a little disappointed if one is missing or un-
> findable for whatever reason, you're setting yourself up.

Beyond that, I think a large part of this game is the fact that it's
a challenge. A while back someone described their feeling when
finding their first box was amazement that it actually worked. If
you easily found every box, it would lose much of its appeal, just
like playing any game loses its appeal if you always win. Sometimes
it's good to play a game where you win handily, but sometimes you
need to be challenged and sometimes you need to lose. Otherwise you
start feeling like you're just going through the motions.

You should be disappointed when you don't find a box; if you weren't,
that means you don't care. But being disappointed when you don't
find a box goes hand in hand with being elated when you do find a
box.

-- Kirbert

I so agree. Thanks for saying it RIFamily.

Lone R

RIFamily wrote: I just wrote a long email about why we box etc... but I erased it, opting
instead to get right to the point of my thoughts.

Without finding letterboxes we are all "just" hikers. SO... even if the
hike, the cool location etc, is part of the fun, we are boxers! We want to
find letterboxes. We do!

I feel bad that every time someone expresses disappointment at not finding a
box they are told to just be happy with the journey.

Ultimately, we are letterboxers. At least I am.

RIFamily

regarding
It's about the journey, the stamp is simply the physical memory!
and
I really like finding the box, but being brought to a nice location or
learning a little known local history is way more important to me
and
all the millions of other times someone talks about the journey as most
important
__
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 269.11.10/943 - Release Date: 8/8/2007
5:38 PM

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






---------------------------------
Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new Yahoo! Mail

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

And THEN you have the experience we had yesterday. A really great, challenging 5 mile hike in search of a 4 box series topped by finding the one of the series that had been 'lost' for nearly a year!! What a high-five moment we three old broads had!! Make it SOOOO worth the pain! I would not hike for the sake of the hike - the hike and views are the bonus of the boxing!

Pamela Smith wrote: Thing is, when you make the experience about the box to the point
where you're more than a little disappointed if one is missing or un-
findable for whatever reason, you're setting yourself up. It's like
deciding to be disappointed, then complaining that you're
disappointed. We all know that boxes will be elusive, whether it's
because we can't figure out the clue or because an animal has dragged
the box off. That's part of the deal. Yes, letterboxing is different
from hiking, but it's not at all likely that any LBer will go for too
long without coming off a trail with an Attempted instead of a
Find..... It's our choice how to handle that and allowing it to
frustrate you too much instead of making it a fleeting twinge may be
a sign that you'd prefer a more certain hobby. No biggie.

pezpam

On Aug 12, 2007, at 6:26 PM, RIFamily wrote:

> I just wrote a long email about why we box etc... but I erased it,
> opting
> instead to get right to the point of my thoughts.
>
> Without finding letterboxes we are all "just" hikers. SO... even
> if the
> hike, the cool location etc, is part of the fun, we are boxers! We
> want to
> find letterboxes. We do!
>
> I feel bad that every time someone expresses disappointment at not
> finding a
> box they are told to just be happy with the journey.
>
> Ultimately, we are letterboxers. At least I am.
>
> RIFamily
>
> regarding
> It's about the journey, the stamp is simply the physical memory!
> and
> I really like finding the box, but being brought to a nice location or
> learning a little known local history is way more important to me
> and
> all the millions of other times someone talks about the journey as
> most
> important





---------------------------------
Luggage? GPS? Comic books?
Check out fitting gifts for grads at Yahoo! Search.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>From: "RIFamily"



> Without finding letterboxes we are all "just" hikers. SO... even if the
> hike, the cool location etc, is part of the fun, we are boxers! We want to
> find letterboxes. We do!
>
> I feel bad that every time someone expresses disappointment at not finding a
> box they are told to just be happy with the journey.

Hmmm, interesting point. People are drawn to letterboxing for many different reasons -- art, spending time outside, solving puzzling clues, the scenery, hiking, etc. For me it is all of these things.

Like several others, I was a hiker long before I ever heard of letterboxing. Perhaps that is why even though I am disappointed in not finding a box (aren't we all?), it really is not a big deal when I come away empty-handed on a letterbox hunt -- because I enjoyed being "just" a hiker before there ever was a letterbox at the end of the trail. Having a letterbox along my trail is a nice reason to go, but by no means my sole reason to go. Were there to be no more letterboxes, I would still hike and find it enjoyable.

> Ultimately, we are letterboxers. At least I am.

Ultimately I am out to enjoy what comes my way, be that a wonderful hike, a breathtaking view, a challenging hunt or a letterbox. I've found that life is much more enjoyable when you try to find enjoyment in whatever comes along, even if it is not what you were hoping to find. At least for me.


I realize that perspective is not shared by everyone, but may help to explain the difference in attitude about not finding boxes. When you are in it for only one thing -- the stamp/art -or- the challenging clues -or- the hike -or- the scenery -- you set out with a very specific expectation tied to this area of interest. If then the box you go after is missing or does not offer much in your area of interest, it is likely you will be more disappointed than if you participate for a variety of reasons or the overall experience as in most cases, a letterbox hunt will provide a worthwhile experience in at least one of these areas.

SpringChick

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." -- John Muir



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Wow, all wonderful replies to my post.

A few things jumped out at me

Gail said
I would not hike for the sake of the hike - the hike and views are the bonus
of the boxing!

THAT is really the essence of what I wanted to say. Thanks for putting it
that way Gail.

It does depend on what draws a person to boxing. None of the reasons are
wrong, they just may not be your reasons.

SpringChick said that she was a hiker before a boxer... so that may be the
reason for her particular point of view... she's hiking anyway, the box is
the bonus. Quite different than what Gail said!

The people who are "stamp snobs" (said lovingly!)... the ones who really are
in it because they love to see beautiful handcarved unique stamps... they
are disappointed when they find a store bought stamp. For them the hunt,
the hike and the interesting locations are the bonus, the beautiful stamps
are the goal.

We all have different goals and what we consider to be the "Bonus" of
boxing.

What great replies, I am so glad I posted my thoughts.

RIFamily




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

We're not on the same wavelength because I would never suggest someone
"reconsider" due to whatever degree of disappointment. People are adults.
They know nobody is holding a gun to their head forcing them to partake in
letterboxing.

Sometimes, even if something *is* "an issue", that still doesn't mean it's a
reason to give up the sport or hobby. That might just be the kind of person
they are. Yes, how the person handles the disappointment can decide how it
affects their experience. But they might be perfectly fine with how they're
handling their disappointment and don't need suggestions from others that
they don't belong in the hobby.

I can go from "some" disappointment to serious disappointment in
letterboxing on any given day, depending on the experience, particularly,
for me, with what I consider the fairly recent dumbing down of letterboxing.
But I accept that there are times I'm going to be seriously disappointed to
the point of having it "color my experience" that day.

The way I perceive what you're saying, you're deciding for another person
just how emotional they should possibly be about an interest of theirs, and
that they should consider getting out of the hobby if it doesn't match what
you consider an acceptable level of emotion.

~~ Mosey ~~

-----Original Message-----
From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Pamela Smith
Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 6:54 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [LbNA] hiking VS boxing


LOVE the booby prize idea.

I suspect that the poster you're referring to is me. I actually think
you and I are on similar wavelengths on this. I did not suggest that
any disappointment meant someone should stop letterboxing, but that
if the disappointment was coloring their experience so much that it
was an issue *for them*, it might be time to reconsider. I think I
even implied that yes, not finding a box is disappointing. Like you,
all I said was that how you handle that disappointment will decide
how it affects your experience.

pezpam

I'm sorry if I wasn't clear. I'm not of the If You Don't Like It, Get
Out mindset. My intent was more to offer a friendly suggestion, an
option, though perhaps in the current climate, that's hard to get
across in email...... I wouldn't presume to tell someone when to get
out based on my perceptions of their experience. What I said was
meant as a gentle and friendly suggestion that if this hobby drives
you crazy, you might *think* about whether it's for you.....
something I guess we all do when we decide whether to look up clues
for that weekend or not. Continue, don't continue, it's up to you.
You just have to be realistic - not every box is going to be there.
Ignore that, be a little disappointed, throw a hissy fit on the
trail, doesn't affect me.

Really, it was not meant as a judgement or anything more than what it
was. I don't believe I ever told anyone to get out of the hobby, no
matter what their reaction...... Maybe it's hard to get that across
when discussions here very often have been more divisive..... If
anyone felt like I was telling them to get out of LBing, that was not
my intent.

pezpam

On Aug 13, 2007, at 4:19 AM, xxxxxxxx wrote:

> We're not on the same wavelength because I would never suggest someone
> "reconsider" due to whatever degree of disappointment. People are
> adults.
> They know nobody is holding a gun to their head forcing them to
> partake in
> letterboxing.
>
> Sometimes, even if something *is* "an issue", that still doesn't
> mean it's a
> reason to give up the sport or hobby. That might just be the kind
> of person
> they are. Yes, how the person handles the disappointment can
> decide how it
> affects their experience. But they might be perfectly fine with
> how they're
> handling their disappointment and don't need suggestions from
> others that
> they don't belong in the hobby.
>
> I can go from "some" disappointment to serious disappointment in
> letterboxing on any given day, depending on the experience,
> particularly,
> for me, with what I consider the fairly recent dumbing down of
> letterboxing.
> But I accept that there are times I'm going to be seriously
> disappointed to
> the point of having it "color my experience" that day.
>
> The way I perceive what you're saying, you're deciding for another
> person
> just how emotional they should possibly be about an interest of
> theirs, and
> that they should consider getting out of the hobby if it doesn't
> match what
> you consider an acceptable level of emotion.
>
> ~~ Mosey ~~
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Pamela Smith
> Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 6:54 PM
> To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [LbNA] hiking VS boxing
>
>
> LOVE the booby prize idea.
>
> I suspect that the poster you're referring to is me. I actually think
> you and I are on similar wavelengths on this. I did not suggest that
> any disappointment meant someone should stop letterboxing, but that
> if the disappointment was coloring their experience so much that it
> was an issue *for them*, it might be time to reconsider. I think I
> even implied that yes, not finding a box is disappointing. Like you,
> all I said was that how you handle that disappointment will decide
> how it affects your experience.
>
> pezpam
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Absolutely! And with very few flames - kudos to you RIFamily! RI is lucky to have you - and wonderful Wandis, of course!

RIFamily wrote: Wow, all wonderful replies to my post.

A few things jumped out at me

Gail said
I would not hike for the sake of the hike - the hike and views are the bonus
of the boxing!

THAT is really the essence of what I wanted to say. Thanks for putting it
that way Gail.

It does depend on what draws a person to boxing. None of the reasons are
wrong, they just may not be your reasons.

SpringChick said that she was a hiker before a boxer... so that may be the
reason for her particular point of view... she's hiking anyway, the box is
the bonus. Quite different than what Gail said!

The people who are "stamp snobs" (said lovingly!)... the ones who really are
in it because they love to see beautiful handcarved unique stamps... they
are disappointed when they find a store bought stamp. For them the hunt,
the hike and the interesting locations are the bonus, the beautiful stamps
are the goal.

We all have different goals and what we consider to be the "Bonus" of
boxing.

What great replies, I am so glad I posted my thoughts.

RIFamily

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






---------------------------------
Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha!
Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]