No, not my own retirement, as nice as that might be.

I have two boxes--my oldest--that I'm thinking of retiring. These are the remaining two of the Botanical Gardens series in Asheville, NC. They've been in place almost three years.

I got a note today from a very nice geocacher who wanted to let me know that he had found my Trillium box while he was checking on his geocache which is hidden nearby. Trillium is under the bottom step of a stairway; his cache is under the top step. Six steps separate them. The cache is newer than my box because the cache wasn't there last time I did maintenance. Admittedly, this was about six months ago. I just don't get up that way that often anymore.

I could contact him and ask him to move his cache. I could move my box. (I don't like that option because I planted it there due to the proximity of real trillium on that trail.) I could retire both of my remaining boxes, since I don't get there that often and maintenance is proving a chore. I could do nothing and hope my box isn't mistaken for a geocache. Maybe there's an option I haven't considered.

Opening the floor for discussion now. Thanks.

Knit Wit

Here's my opinion....

I think you should leave it. Regarding the close proximity to the Geocache...sound like you both are bringing people to a wonderful spot in Asheville. I know that there are those that have had horrible luck with close quartered caches...but I have seen some great relationships too. For instance...there is a very historic cabin here in Washington. It has a great story behind it, and the grounds are a wonderful place for a picnic during a day of letterboxing...or even traveling on the major freeway here. There is ONE area that suits hiding anything, and that includes only THREE trees. A letterbox (from a great letterboxer) is between tree #1 and #2...and a geocache is between #2 and #3. They both see way more action than either would by themselves, and they coexist quite nicely. I see it as a great way to educate cachers when they find the box by mistake. The box clearly states that its not a geocache, and that the cache is nearby. The log book does get full fast due to the increased traffic...but that leads me to my second point...
Maintenence... Here in the Northwest, I have seen great boxing "paying it forward". Almost all the boxers I know here carry enough stuff with them to repair boxes, replace baggies and add more editions to the logbook. In fact, I went to a function in Oregon where the event organizers gave out a special present to those who RSVP'd. It was a "Letterbox Repair Kit" with some baggies, some small paper towels and a small logbook. Its about looking out for each others boxes. And I would hope others would help you out in a similar manner.
So...in summary...I would not ask him to move, but suggest a good working relationship. I wouldnt move your box...like you said...the spot is perfect. And I wouldnt retire them...they sound happy.

thats my vote...and happy trails!
buppsters

I agree with buppsters. :)

LG.

Have you thought of writing him and asking him to include in his clues that a letterbox is nearby?

Mr. Yuk

Actually, in his note to me through the "contact the placer" on LbNA, he said he'd already added text to his page regarding the letterbox's presence, so he's not bothered by the proximity.

One thing in the box's favor is that it is small. No room for trinkets.

I'm going to leave it for a couple of weeks at least because I won't have the opportunity to do anything before then. We'll see.

Knit Wit

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I got a note today from a very nice geocacher who wanted to let me know that he had found my Trillium box while he was checking on his geocache which is hidden nearby. Trillium is under the bottom step of a stairway; his cache is under the top step. Six steps separate them.

I could contact him and ask him to move his cache.

Really, you shouldn't have to. He was there, he saw that your box was six steps away, he saw that your box was there long before his cache, he should have removed his cache. Ah, but where's common courtesy nowadays?

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I could move my box. I could do nothing and hope my box isn't mistaken for a geocache. Maybe there's an option I haven't considered.

Yeah: leave everything as is. If your box disappears or the stamp inside disappears, then retire your box.

You might ask the geocacher to mention the nearby letterbox in his cache listing and to ask other cachers not to disturb it.

You might ask the geocacher to mention the nearby letterbox in his cache listing and to ask other cachers not to disturb it.

This is what I did with my friendly geocacher. I asked them not to metion it in their logbook (which might make geocachers go looking for it without knowing what to do), but I did ask them to put it on the Cache page where there is plenty of room to explain about not taking the stamp or leaving any geotrash in it.

– 'course I didn't call it geotrash to them lol

YT

Isn't there a rule that there should be a minimum distance between geocaches? I would think that this could apply to LB–GC proximity, too, but apparently not.

I'm assuming that as is this a Botanical Gardens, there are probably No Walking on the Grass... Stay on the Path signs all around, so the steps are the only place available?

The most important thing is that your box needs explicit information that it is NOT a geocache.

It's been there for more than two and half years... and it should stay. Box maintenance can easily be handled by finders. Just put a gentle reminder in your clues for the hunters to include baggies, a spare log (indicate size), and a "this is not a geocache" label or something in their gear.

StarSAELS

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Isn't there a rule that there should be a minimum distance between geocaches?

Yes, 528 feet. It's not strict, supposedly if you have a good reason -- like there's a cliff or a river in between -- you can get permission to place closer than that. It depends on the reviewer; one reviewer of my placements refused any closer than 528 feet, period, while others have been known to approve them if the situation warranted it.

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I would think that this could apply to LB–GC proximity, too, but apparently not.

Well, yeah, that'd be good, but geocaching.com doesn't have any idea where our letterboxes are! Each and every geocache is located precisely by the coordinates, and the computer will automatically flag when someone tries to place a new one close to an old one. They even have a scheme wherein their mystery and multistage caches are known to the reviewers and can flag a notice that a new cache is too close even when there's no way for the placer to know it unless he hunted it.

You could, if you desired, look up the reviewer who published a cache. It's the very first log on the cache listing. Contact him and tell him that this cache is right on top of your letterbox. I dunno if he'll do anything, but if there proves to be trouble as a result of the proximity then at least geocaching.com will know what's going on.

Thanks to everyone who put in their "two cents". After looking up the cacher's box on the geocaching site, I see that he does have the presence of my letterbox noted. Several of the finders for his box also mentioned that they had found my box as well.

I've decided to leave it there and hope for the best. Just see how long it lasts. Two and a half years and counting...

Thanks to the friends who have offered to help me out on maintenance as needed.

Knit Wit

My Rainbow & Waterfall letterbox lasted 2 years within 2 feet from a geocache. The geocache was there first and I had no idea it was there when I planted by letterbox. The geocache went missing twice during that time but my letterbox never disappeared. That is, until a lawn maintenance crew finally beautified the area and took both the letterbox and the geocache!

Just telling you that letterboxes and geocaches can happily co-exist. We just put a bunch of notes all over the letterbox to not trade any items from the letterbox. However, the logbook does fill up rather quickly when you have both letterboxers and geocachers signing in.

Amyrica