Goals

[Theadyn]

This will combine so many of my interests. I'm really excited about it and really don't have anyone in real life, besides my daughter and bf, that will understand what I am going to do. I hope some of you will understand and not think I've jumped off the deep end.

It has been over 2 years since my husband passed, and in that time nothing really grabbed me with the feeling that 'this' was the right thing to do with his ashes. But now I feel like I know.

It will combine everything I am interested in, honoring him, getting closure, and maybe finding myself, all in one shot.

I'm going to go to all 50 states, not in a big long sprint, but spread out over time. In each state, I'm going to geocache a place, either for sentimental reasons, or for it's beauty or maybe it's humor and in that cache I will leave a special something at each one of them. Here's where it might seem weird, bear with me. My late husband had a severe goofy side. So I am going to leave a hula doll, with a little bit of his ashes in it, with a note. The note will explain it, and will hope if someone down the line takes it I hope they put it on their dash, so maybe then he could see the things he didn't get a chance to see. I'm gonna name them HulaJohn's. Hokey, I know. But kind of beautiful. He would totally dig the hula doll! Would think it was funny. And he would totally dig that I got out and saw some stuff.

So, I am starting that journey now, and am going to document and write about it. From the start, including selling the rv and finding a van, outfitting a van, picking out states and places, taking pictures and writing about the places. I know this has obligated me to both Hawaii and Alaska, yeah, cool!! May take a long time to do them all, but this is my goal. Time I have... what I need is inspiration and purpose. This is it for me. Out on the road with my thoughts, hopefully getting closure and healing.

Sorry for the ramblings, but just really wanted to talk to someone about it, and I don't know many people that would understand this. Thanks for listening.. errr.. reading.

 

[jimindenver]

I hope you both see many wonderful things and that you find what you are looking for.

 

[LowTech]

Very Cool!
My dad ended up at the Grand Canyon years after he died. They had always planned it but it didn't happen till his ashes went there years later. When we (mom and I) finished the FreeWheelin' (our shuttle build of about 4 years) we did a 10 day, scenic, cross country trip from Fla. To Cali. On that trip there were some “Important” stops to make and the Canyon was the main one. It was an ending and a beginning, mom's first cross country trip, and in a rig she did her first built on.

 

[gypsychic]

Personally, I would feel pretty darn lucky if I was geocaching and found a HulaJohn. The idea of setting a hula doll on my dash to be the eyes and ears for someone very special would be special to me. I think it is a great idea. You know your husband and what he would have liked. I think it would be a meaningful trip for you and hopefully to all the recipients of a HulaJohn. Truthfully it sounds like a great premise for a book or movie. I think you will find what you are looking for. What a great way to honor both your past with him and your future for you.

Peace and Joy to you Theadyn.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

That sounds really cool, are you going to publish the caches at the end for people to find or just leave it to chance. Use a laminated card for the note...or at least rite as rain.

 

[Theadyn]

Not sure.. will have to think on that one. I've never geocached before, so it will be new (which is good!). So far the thought is to just blog about the city or area each one is left. And the thought on the note was to put all in a Ziploc. Laminated, that's an idea, thanks! Wrote out the note yesterday, might have to tweak it. New to blogging, as well. Lots of 'new's.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

ive done some geocaching, everything will get wet. i use my own logs (were you sign 'i was here')at almost every cache, some are in ziplocks, in tupperware, it dont matter :\ I use rite as rain paper but even that will give out eventually, laminate probably best bet. Ill definitely check out your blog They have geotagging systems were you can put a code on each hulajohn and people go online, enter a code and you hulujohn is tracked so you can see where they travel. Here is the free version http://geokrety.org/help.php#create

 

[Theadyn]

Interesting... will check it out, thanks!!

The blog is still a baby, have so many things to write about! I did get a bluehost thing, got frustrated, don't like the name, don't know how to change it, can't remember the many passwords, said screw it. So I just started this one easy peasy on blogger.. Here is the link, though I am still working on it. It's a start anyways.

 

[Almost There]

I really, really hate to burst enthusiastic bubbles but as a fairly experienced geocacher (8 years) there are some 'rules' and guidelines that you should know about.

First, a person placing a geocache must be able to maintain their geocache. The reviewer who approves the geocache is charged with the responsibility of determining where the geocacher lives in relation to the cache. The only times I've seen permission granted for distant caches was for long distance truckers who had many, many found caches to their credit and who travelled a regular route so that they could maintain their placed caches along that route. Even then they had to explain it all to the reviewer. For example, there is no way I could get permission to place a cache, say in Michigan, even though I'm there several times a year. My own personal range is within 50 miles so that it's not an undue hardship when I have to run out to do maintenance.

Second, placing items in the cache that may be offensive or dangerous is a definite no-no. Items such as you propose (husbands' ashes) would most likely fall under that category.

Caches should also be placed in secure containers. I've had one out for 5 years now that is still completely dry inside - good container. I can't begin to tell you how many caches I've found in inadequate containers that are moldy, wet, disgusting messes because the cache owner didn't take the time, thought and energy to do it right.

I'd suggest that you start geocaching and find as many as you can to make sure that you are really interested in it. It's a truly wonderful way to see places that you would never have found on your own. I'm looking forward to eventually finding caches in the 48 lower states and as many provinces/territories as I can.

As someone else suggested, you might want to use a trackable. You can buy the tags, attach a 'hulajohn' (without the ashes), write up the mission - to visit all 50 states, and place it in a cache. Be warned that you will have no actual control over the trackable and that a lot of them go missing over time. It can be fun to watch your trackable online as it travels but it can also be extremely frustrating for the owner to watch it sit for months in a cache somewhere or to disappear forever.

Have fun with the geocaching, maybe when both of us are finally on the road we can meet up and do some geocaching.

 

[Theadyn]

I was thinking of hunting down other peoples geocaches, then the exchanging part (take something out, put something in), not actually making my own cache there. Still thinking about the trackable, it would be fun to see where all they may go. If just one of them went to some cool places, I'd be happy with that.

Rules and guidelines.. I thought it was supposed to be something fun to do. haha

As for the ashes.. they shouldn't be considered dangerous. So you're saying it may be offensive. To the owner or someone that finds it later? Would I have to get permission from the one who put it there? Will have to think on this some.. maybe just the doll and a note and sprinkle some ashes near the area. Like I said, I'm new to it, so will have to read up on it. And will be going to be hunting down some this week.

 

[mockturtle]

My husband's ashes travel with me and I feel very close to him, especially when I visit places we both especially enjoyed.

 

[gypsychic]

I think it's a great idea to geocache some to get the hang of it. I have done a little and it's fun. I've helped other people and their children build the containers. That is fun as well. Also seeing how creative some people get with their containers is really cool.

I'm all for rules. In fact I'm sort of a rule-following gal but I also think there are things (missions) that are reasons to break some rules. I don't think anybody is going to be hurt or injured if she never keeps up a geocache. There are ways around most rules. Get creative. I think the possibility of the mission to do good for Theadyn vastly overwhelms the possibility of somebody being disappointed by finding a unkept up geocache. I guess my thoughts about rules are there are hierarchy to rules and geocaching rules are near the bottom. Part of my vandwelling existence is to not be so concerned with other's arbitrary rules.

I do think that someone may not be as enamored with the idea of finding someones ashes. I though of that myself when I read the original post. If they are in something secure I don't see what the problem is. Only Theadyn can say whether leaving the ashes out would leave a missing part to her process.

 

[Patrick46]

I think it's a wonderful idea.

I too have played in several national motorcycle TAG games, and the rules there are quite simple.

and the first rule is FUN...and I think Theadyn's husband would highly agree that this sounds like FUN!!


vaya con dios

 

[Almost There]

I think it's a great idea to geocache some to get the hang of it. I have done a little and it's fun. I've helped other people and their children build the containers. That is fun as well. Also seeing how creative some people get with their containers is really cool.

I'm all for rules. In fact I'm sort of a rule-following gal but I also think there are things (missions) that are reasons to break some rules. I don't think anybody is going to be hurt or injured if she never keeps up a geocache. There are ways around most rules. Get creative. I think the possibility of the mission to do good for Theadyn vastly overwhelms the possibility of somebody being disappointed by finding a unkept up geocache. I guess my thoughts about rules are there are hierarchy to rules and geocaching rules are near the bottom. Part of my vandwelling existence is to not be so concerned with other's arbitrary rules.


I do think that someone may not be as enamored with the idea of finding someones ashes. I though of that myself when I read the original post. If they are in something secure I don't see what the problem is. Only Theadyn can say whether leaving the ashes out would leave a missing part to her process.

It is something fun and exciting to do! BUT there are 'rules' for this just like there are 'rules' for most everything else. Try playing baseball without any rules, or cooking or driving or well, you get the idea.

I was just trying to point out that Theadyn's chances of getting her caches as suggested, published in the first place is nil. The reviewers pay particular attention to the residence listed (yes, they think in terms of S&B existence) and the distance to the caches proposed location.

Without getting it listed it remains nothing more than something dropped somewhere that will literally be littering the landscape so there's no point in placing something that can't be listed IMO.

The whole point of placing a geocache is so other people can find enjoyment at finding it. The 'joy' of finding something that is not maintained, isn't in a suitable container and contains unsuitable material is, well, not a joyous event at all.

And no, personally I don't believe that finding something with someone's beloved remains inside it in a geocache is going to be an enriching or enjoyable experience. A memorial to him is sweet, me finding something with someones' ashes - not so sweet.

While it is a brilliant idea on Theadyn's part of what she needs to do to heal from her husbands' death, it's impractical on several levels.

A trackable memorial to her husband would be a way for her to memorialize him AND stay within the rules.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

she can treat her hulujohn like any other trackable, she doesnt need a cache. But you have a point about the ashes being offensive. not sure its exactly against the 'rules'. Open cache states: " Keep things family friendly. Don’t leave obscene comments or materials behind for others. Keep things safe. Don’t leave behind explosives, ammunition, sharp objects, food/beverages or illegal substances". I think obscene means porno more than ashes.

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hula...i meant

 

[scooterdog]

Their is a group of us who chose to honor our friend in this manner. She died fighting a horrible disease, but she lived her life to the fullest. We divided her ashes among us, and took her on road trips with us, because she loved to travel. We gathered one year later, and joined her ashes together and spread them on heart sacred land. It was a very healing process for us all.

If you decide to do this, which I think your husband would find hilarious, I have an idea. Use model paint, mixed with a small amount of your husbands ashes, to "paint" him on the hulaJohn. As for the geocatching, I know nothing, so I stand mute. I wish you joy and healing on your adventure with your husband.

 

[Theadyn]

My hubby was the same way, fought rectal cancer for 2 years and went through hell but always with a smile and a laugh. That was a very good idea your friends and you had.

And that is a good idea about the paint. I'm going to have him on my hula doll that I will put on my dash, for sure. The paint is a good possibility. Thank you.

 

[GrantRobertson]

You could mix a little bit of the ashes up in some silicone glue and inject that into the hula doll, to keep it from washing out and make it a bit more hygienic. No matter how well you seal your dolls up in zip-lock bags, they will eventually break down and leak. However, truly durable containers are gonna cost you quite a bit, once you buy fifty of them.

Ignore that guy harping about "THE RULES." Those rules are only for people who want to list their geocaches on the "official" geocaching websites. You mentioned nothing of the sort. Though, your HulaJohns are much less likely to be found if you only post them on your blog.

You could just leave them in places where they are very likely to be discovered, but only after a certain time: Say, behind a tree at a national-park camp-site but at the very end of the season. So, next season, someone would be sure to find it. Or on a well-known, but less frequently traveled, hiking trail. Then your HulaJohn would be discovered by the very next hikers that came along. If you choose the trail well, it might take at least a couple of weeks for someone to find it, but it wouldn't be out there in the weather for years all by its lonesome.