18 March 2010

An Inspiration

A few years back I hunted a box in Long Beach where the planter appeared to take advantage of a black PVC pipe buried in the ground in a raised planter at a business. It was tucked neatly under some very robust greenery, so if you didn't know it was there, you certainly wouldn't notice it. The black pipe was exposed only a couple of inches and had this cool rubber top on it which covered the contents perfectly, really making it a "hide in plain sight" (HIPS) box. Not sure if the planter put the pipe in the ground or just happened upon it. I suspect the former.

Inspiration comes at the oddest times. This was one of those moments. Fortunately it happened early in my time in this hobby. Unfortunately, it now nurtures my addiction. You see, when it comes to actual letterboxing...not just the fun part meeting the people on the journey along the way...I am fueled by the plant rather than the find.

Those who I've had the luxury of crossing paths with have heard the disclaimer. If you're a purist who really embraces the leaves no trace principles of letterboxing, then my boxes are probably not going to be enjoyable to find. There are times I have gone to great lengths to plant HIPS boxes. Sometimes it means disturbing the environment (urban or otherwise), generally long enough for me to make the box blend in with its surroundings. When I am done, I hope I have left only a little trace of my existence.

I've wandered off track again with philosophy.

The inspiration of that little black pipe manifested itself a few years later. Naturally, I wanted more than the cool rubber cap to protect the contents as the location for the plant couldn't have been more in plain sight. Those who have found the box know what I am talking about.

After spending about a week of designing the device and a couple of weekend days in the shop, I came up with this HIPS letterbox. You'll just have to imagine finding a black pipe with a cool rubber cap on top, sticking out of the ground only an inch or two. Then think about what it took to plant it.

13 comments:

Bobguyman said...

Writing at 3 in the morning? *sigh*

~BOB~

Unknown said...

That is soooo cool!!! I hope you are planting this somewhere I can find it!

The Wolf Family

Kay/The Little Foxes said...

Brilliant!!! I'm with Wolf - I want to find this one too!

We just finished doing an Odyssey of the Mind competition with 5 kids in Eli's grade (10 year olds, grade 5). My co-coach is this really brilliant artist who never says "no", but says "yes, and...." in response to any idea. Kind of reminds me of someone..... ;-))

He wants to continue working with this group of kids on "creative projects". One thing I was thinking about was challenge them to "hide stuff in plain sight" and plant letterboxes with them. I hope we will have some great "no boundaries" ideas ;-))

"X" Marks the Spot said...

Yes, up at three in the morning!...~BOB~ knows my best ideas come at that time of day. 0200-0500...that's when inspiration usually rears it head with me. Sometimes its great, and sometimes it's brutal the next day.

Rabid Quilter from California said...

What an ingenious idea! Hope we are able to find one of these one day.

Doublesaj & Old Blue
Davis, CA

ahmed said...

packaging of all furniture to ensure the process of transport without loss or damage, where we provide cardboard and plastic materials and cartons, and we pack every piece in a way that suits the nature, and we take great care to packaging mirrors, شركة نقل عفش

emlak-elanlari said...

kiraye evler 2020-ci il siyahısı Azərbaycanda və Bakı şəhərində kiraye ev.

WolfLarsen said...

Need help of professional writers? We are here.
We'll provide you lowest prices and highest quality of work.
You will never regret. Please feel free to contact me if any questions 24/7
Please visit our website - essay writing.

issabella said...

This is such an inspiring post! It's amazing to see how much progress can be made when you put your mind to something. I'm so proud of you for taking the initiative and putting the effort into getting i need someone to write my assignment done. Keep up the great work!

Wilson said...

I am really so amazed to read your blog. Very grateful to your work. Keep up the great posts sharing for us.
divorce without separation agreement
virginia uncontested divorce forms

johnnydepp said...

thanks for sharing this valuable information. Frederick Traffic Lawyer

Antony said...

What an amazing blog. I really enjoy it. This is a fantastic and informative post. Continue to post; we'll be waiting for your next blog.
Abogado Federal de Defensa Criminal

Robert said...

Wow, this blog post truly serves as an inspiration! I couldn't help but feel motivated and uplifted after reading your words. Your ability to express your thoughts with such clarity and passion is truly commendable. It's almost as if you have a way of connecting with your readers on a deeply personal level.
The message conveyed in this post resonates deeply with me. It reminded me of the importance of setting goals, pushing through obstacles, and never giving up on our dreams. Your personal anecdotes and experiences made it even more relatable and encouraging.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom and inspiring others through your writing. This blog post has left a lasting impact on me and will continue to serve as a source of motivation whenever I face challenges. Keep up the amazing work, and I look forward to reading more of your inspiring content in the future!

motorcycle accident virginia