Quiet Game Produces High Activity

NOT ALL GAMES, or other forms of recreation, require high amounts of energy or vigorous physical activity. Some extremely enjoyable leisure activities are considered to be passive (rather than active) forms of recreation. Some of these may be enjoyed by simply sitting at a game table, across from one opponent, and even remaining mostly quiet while play is in progress. Such is the case for a game of chess. Chess is perhaps the classic example of a quiet game which produces high activity - not physical activity, but rather a large amount of mental activity.

Most chess players would agree that the best chance for winning requires the use of strategy and tactics. Thinking about moves of game pieces as far ahead as possible is an advantage. Deciding the best approach to take toward the capture of the opponent's game pieces causes the wheels of the mental processes to turn!

Game pieces for chess include kings, queens, bishops, knights, rooks, and pawns. Each player starts with 16 pieces. The chess board consists of 64 squares of alternating dark and light colors. Rules of play are usually included with most chess sets, or they are easily available. It is imperative for players to learn the moves that each game piece can make on the board. It is equally important to know how to capture the opponent's game pieces. The object of the game is to checkmate the opponent's king: to make it impossible for the opponent's king to be able to move without being captured.

The cost for purchasing a chess set varies widely. Inexpensive sets are available at numerous stores. On the other hand, sets which are handsomely or ornately crafted can be quite expensive. A range of prices can be found to fit most any budget!

One of the values of chess as a recreation activity is that it requires concentration. It becomes difficult - if not impossible - for a person playing chess to think about other things. Focusing on the "task at hand" (playing the game) helps bring a release of tension and a relief from the stress of everyday pressures.

Playing chess is a great choice for leisure involvement for individuals who prefer table games or more quiet forms of recreation. However, chess is also an excellent choice as an alternative activity for those who usually select much more physically demanding leisure pursuits.

Outdoor Adventure Awaits

FOR YEARS children have enjoyed hiding things, giving simple clues, then challenging their playmates to find the hidden objects. Now, searching for "treasures" has gone hi-tech, and it is attracting adults by the thousands around the world. Geocaching (pronounced: geo-cashing) is an up-to-date version of a treasure hunt. And, most geocachers are enjoying the hunt as much as making a discovery!

In order to find the general area where treasures (cache) might be located, geocachers need only to go to the Web at www.geocaching.com. An online search for cache locations can be made by country, state, city, or ZIP code. Also at the Web site, searchers can find the cache's waypoint (usually latitude and longitude).

For the actual trek to find the treasure, a handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) unit is needed. These electronic devices usually range somewhere between $100 and $1,000. Accuracy for GPS units is generally between six and twenty feet. When geocachers are ready to begin the hunt, the cache's waypoint is entered into the GPS unit.

Hidden containers hold the treasures - which can be most anything. Items discovered might include a logbook, collectible coins, toys, trinkets, perhaps a CD, tape, or even some actual cash. Upon finding the hidden container, the searcher usually is expected to first sign a logbook and then has the option of taking an item and leaving something else, or not trading at all. After making a discovery, searchers should log their find onto the geocaching Web site.

Some caches may be found rather quickly; others are more difficult to locate and may require several hours. For many geocachers, the chances of finding a cache nearby, or within easy driving distance, are good. According the the geocaching Web site, there are over 300,000 caches in over 200 countries world-wide.

Individuals hiding a cache should mark its location with a GPS unit and report its placement on the geocaching Web site. Also, the cache should be checked as often as possible to be sure it remains in good condition and that missing items are replaced.

For a unique leisure experience, geocaching provides adults the opportunity to return to the joys of a childhood game: a treasure hunt! When geocaching, outdoor adventure awaits!