Tribe.net. Local Connections KittyC http://geocaching.tribe.net/thread/554b1d16-6d0c-466a-917d-260bfd28ed6b#6608f003-b91c-4ad1-a2b9-027a5aa98ad7 2007-04-05T03:25:49Z 2007-04-05T03:25:49Z

Cleaning up my office and I noticed I still have the old school disk holders (ones that hold two or three floppy disks) and was feeling guilty about throwing them away. So I decided to decorate and turn them into logbook holders for geocaches. I tested on out by putting it outside in the redwoods for a week with some regular paper inside and they stayed dry. So that has been my favorite new item to swap since stuff gets damp and sometimes waterlogged up here. The size seems to work well also. It is better than throwing them out.

KittyC 2007-04-05T03:25:49Z KittyC http://geocaching.tribe.net/thread/554b1d16-6d0c-466a-917d-260bfd28ed6b#b2cd979c-5bd9-4bf5-86a1-2e940d027921 2007-03-23T07:55:37Z 2007-03-23T07:55:37Z

I am sympathetic to the poor person's travel bug, so I like to find an item with a note attached with directions and a story even if it isn't an official travel bug. I like to take tiny things or items that suggest some history. My favorite find was an old tin that held scotch brand tape. It was in great condition and looked very retro, plus seals well. I reused it by filling it with a series of small postcards I got from the National Zoo. I like to leave a piece of local artwork, like artcards, bookmarks, small paintings, beaded pieces, origami etc. Mostly my stuff so very cost effective! I usually use the tiny things I find in creating a new item, like putting a tiny toy inside a neat box or bag. It makes the toys feel a little more like a treasure. It gets damp around here, so I started doing theme drops in sealed bags. Depending on the cache description I try to put something together that fits the cache name/anticipate location/size. Sometimes that works and other times I am surprised. I like the idea of someone finding an item looks like a treasure and maybe can be shared with others. Always try to help out with practical items too by including pens that write well, sealable bags, small towels that expand with water, batteries, extra pages for log books, gloves. I get the cheap toy burnout, so I generally leave that stuff behind unless I think I can restock the cache with a good variety.

KittyC 2007-03-23T07:55:37Z Vashti http://geocaching.tribe.net/thread/554b1d16-6d0c-466a-917d-260bfd28ed6b#bda722f4-0b30-45e1-ab88-8ae255dd7b3f 2007-03-21T01:30:55Z 2007-03-21T01:30:55Z

After hunting season is over, I love to get those disposable hand & foot warmers at walmart on clearance. I've also put in battery operated chain lights after christmas time and that was really appreciated by the trucker who found it for his truck! I think that if you look around while your out and about running errands or shopping, you can always find some cook items to trade if you look. I like personal items myself. I just posted in the "kill the toys" section that my favorite find was an antique aluminum milk carton top that was printed with the cache owner's family dairy name. I love finding personal items to add to my collection.

Vashti 2007-03-21T01:30:55Z Nathanial http://geocaching.tribe.net/thread/554b1d16-6d0c-466a-917d-260bfd28ed6b#dc81370a-dda8-43e7-b65d-791ccfad3bb6 2006-05-03T17:13:08Z 2006-05-03T17:13:08Z

Odd, I leave the same things... Sapphire, Ruby, etc... that I buy wholesale at National Gem and Jewelry shows for rougly $5 a carat... My son goes with me and loves "Treasure Hunting" for new stuff to add to his collection.

Nathanial 2006-05-03T17:13:08Z Lee http://geocaching.tribe.net/thread/554b1d16-6d0c-466a-917d-260bfd28ed6b#4a26757a-fd3b-4bd1-9629-bd97209993d0 2006-05-03T03:06:22Z 2006-05-03T03:06:22Z

In the past, I've sometimes left useful "saftey" items, like single-use misc. first-aid packs (e.g. anti-itch gel in poison oak areas), single-use sunscreen towelettes, small packs of Tecnu (again, in PO areas), etc. You can often buy these on-line in bulk for cheap. One of my useful finds was one of those disposable hard warmers. Found it when out caching in Tahoe when I was freezing and had a short hike back to the car. Made me very happy.

Lee 2006-05-03T03:06:22Z DeAnna http://geocaching.tribe.net/thread/554b1d16-6d0c-466a-917d-260bfd28ed6b#b9d916f4-cc68-4411-b459-ac9e44c8f018 2006-05-02T15:53:32Z 2006-05-02T15:53:32Z

I really like things all across the board. I have found both toys and practical items that I have really appreciated. My favorites havebeen pretty random, so I agree that you never know what someone's taste is. A little mobster figurine that I researched and found came from a gumball machine A toy speedboat (hotwheels), my brother collects them A homemade striped knitted cap Band-Aids (my hubby had a blister going at the time we found them!) Batteries (my GPS batteries had just run out and I had several more to find!!) An eraser (the rental cabin that I am staying in has pencils, but all the erasers are dead) A mini spider man comic book (my hubby had to take it) For me, the most important things are keeping the cache protected and clean, if it isn't plastic, it needs to have its own plastic bag. Even if a container is airtight, it is potentially exposed to water when people are going through it. Also anything that is previously used needs to be very clean. The cache needs to complement the rest of the contents of the container. I try to bring a few options so that I am not adding a toy to a bunch of toys. Try to diversify the contents of each cache out there so that it is more likely that someone will find something to take.

DeAnna 2006-05-02T15:53:32Z flaneuse http://geocaching.tribe.net/thread/554b1d16-6d0c-466a-917d-260bfd28ed6b#b46be084-9ac1-4a7c-afe2-cee9114b5439 2006-04-30T19:02:23Z 2006-04-30T19:02:23Z

One of the best parts is thinking about things to leave that might delight others, though of course there's no way to know other peoples' tastes. I like the Patti's cut gemstone idea. Seashells, pretty marbles. Potentially useful things like keychains, fridge magnets, esp. those with "local flavor" (e.g. Moosewood restaurant). Postage stamps, rubber stamps. Stickers instead of toys for kids (e.g. "Kill Your Television"!). Those cool old skeleton keys. Small bouncy balls. Lapel buttons, esp. those with a positive message. Small cookie cutters (I like trees, moon, stars...). Oooooh....what else?!

flaneuse 2006-04-30T19:02:23Z Jamaican Steve http://geocaching.tribe.net/thread/554b1d16-6d0c-466a-917d-260bfd28ed6b#6e585947-82ab-440c-92a1-312c64068ab7 2005-03-10T02:28:33Z 2005-03-10T02:28:33Z

I like to leave DVDs and the such, books, things that most people would want or will use...I've left all sorts of things. As a matter of practice I never leave toys...see the KILL THE TOYS post. cheers~ Jamaican Steve

Jamaican Steve 2005-03-10T02:28:33Z Patti http://geocaching.tribe.net/thread/554b1d16-6d0c-466a-917d-260bfd28ed6b#ecd5ffd8-6ad2-45d6-b15e-1ebad11609ff 2005-03-10T00:41:50Z 2005-03-10T00:41:50Z

I always leave a single cut gemstone in a cache. Really cool caches get sapphires and rubies (lab-created, so they're only a couple bucks each, not hundreds.) Less awesome caches get fluorite, labradorite, and the like.

Patti 2005-03-10T00:41:50Z Kristine http://geocaching.tribe.net/thread/554b1d16-6d0c-466a-917d-260bfd28ed6b#aca57738-258a-4a56-9e25-e18e7b86c841 2005-03-10T00:21:47Z 2005-03-10T00:21:47Z

So tell me what the coolest kinds of swaps you like to use - - both to put IN and take OUT. I love travel bugs, but who doesn't!! I try to take a bug and leave a bug. I also like foreign coins, and shop the clearance aisles for cool things ... did a dozen pairs of leather gloves once when I found them on sale for $1. In the fall, when back to school items are cheap, we buy up boxes of 24 crayons and use them all winter ... what else? Kristine

Kristine 2005-03-10T00:21:47Z