My girlfriend at the time and I went on a vacation down to Cancun back in January. This trip had been planned for some time, and I had decided long ago that this was the time when I was going to propose. But how to do it? I decided that since we have enjoyed geocaching together during our formidable dating years, it would be fun (and unexpected) to pop the question while geocaching.

Prior to the trip, I scoped out the geocaches near the hotel and found the one that appeared to be the most scenically located (I think it was called SouthPoint), it was disabled at the time we were down there (washed away in a storm) and was archived shortly after we returned from our trip; we never got to post this story in the online logs. But from the cache description and other people's log entries, it appeared to be a beautiful area right on a jetty on the beach. With the help of my brother using Photoshop, he removed any reference to the fact that the geocache was disabled. He also removed the clue and replaced it with a new decoded one I had prepared specifically for the occasion. I printed up this doctored cache description, purposely leaving the clue encoded, and for good measure, printed up a few "genuine" caches as well and packed them in our luggage bound for Mexico!

We flew down on 1/7/10. The next day was a beautiful day (the best one of our week long trip). After exploring the hotel grounds and laying around the pool for a few hours, my girlfriend (at the time) KT said she was tired of sitting around and asked if I wanted to go for a walk. I said sure, and suggested we bring along the GPS and try to find a geocache or two. Great idea!!!

After a meager attempt to find another cache close by, but getting detoured due to rough terrain and scary bugs, as well as our first bus ride in Cancun, (which could deserve it's own equally exhilarating message board post), we finally started walking toward the South Point Cache. The engagement ring, an antique style custom design I had been researching/saving up for for 8 months, was wadded up in a paper towel in my shorts pocket, and basically had been since we departed from Newark Airport. Since we were on vacation, I was terrified KT would find the ring box when she maybe went through my luggage looking to perhaps borrow a tee shirt. Determined not to let this happen, I decided not to keep the ring in it's box, since that would be a dead give away should she even see the box. KT, above all else, wanted to be surprised by her engagement, and thus far, I got the impression she had absolutely no clue what was about to happen. So I had the ring in a paper towel, in my pocket. Prior to this, it had been on my carry on luggage, as I was also terrified when going through airport security that I would get chosen to be searched more thoroughly, and forced to exposed this big hunk of metal. Suffice it to say, while I was prepared to get down on one knee and propose right there in the airport check point, I certainly hoped to wait till we got down to Mexico!

Anyway, back to the story, we were headed toward the geocache. The GPS read .2 miles, we cut through another hotel property out to the beach. Gentle waves were beating against the light sand. We had our shoes off, and it was wonderful to feel the sand between our toes. January, right after the hectic and blustery holiday season in NJ, was certainly a nice time to be visiting Cancun; it was our first time there.

.1 mile, I could see the jetty, and my heart skipped a beat as I realized that there was where the "cache" would be, there would be where this incredible moment was about to happen. 300 feet. We're walking hand in hand. 200 feet. A small child, the only person in the immediate area, happily runs by, holding a hermit crab he had just caught. There are a couple of table/chairs fashioned out of huge tree cuttings. 100 feet. Closing in on the location, there is a signal beacon nearby, and blue skies as far as the eye can see.

50 feet, 25 feet, heartbeat is getting faster. 10 feet. I start to slow down and veer slightly right. 3 feet.

I stop.

"We're within 3 feet of it. Here, why don't you decode the clue real quick while I start looking?"

"Sure"

I hand her the doctored cache description and a pen. While she starts to decode the clue, I'm pretending to walk around, and also trying to stealthily get the ring out of the wadded paper towel. Now my hands are trembling. Finally, it comes loose in my clammy hand. I turn around.

KT is looking at me, confused. "It says....Will you marry me?"

I get down on one knee, and tell her what she means to me. I propose, and she says YES!!!!

Yay! She also loves the ring, which I am thrilled about, too.

We are getting married this upcoming October in Easton PA, and have told this story to all of our friends/family. We always need to preface the story with the question "Do you know what geocaching is?"

It's nice not to have to type out that whole part of the story!

Editor's Note: I saw this story in the geocaching.com forum and just had to share it with you. Congratulations to The Diggers!

By TheAlabamaRambler

TheAlabamaRambler is Ed Manley, husband to GeoRose (Teresa), father of five wonderful humans, grandfather of two more, and an avid geocacher.

Now retired after a decade in the US Navy followed by 28 years of owning and operating Knowledge Management Systems, an IT consultancy specializing in Workflow Analysis and Business Process Improvement, Ed now has the time to pursue his hobbies: Fishing, Geocaching and Ham Radio... the order of importance changes daily!

He is also W4AGA, an Extra-class Amateur Radio Operator with a passion for serving the public through volunteer disaster-relief preparedness and response. Active as a Communicator and Disaster Relief Chaplain in the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief, American Red Cross (Shelter Manager and ARCHIE Team Lead), the Salvation Army Team Emergency Relief Network (SATERN), Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES AEC - Jefferson County Assistant Emergency Coordinator and OES - Operational Emergency Station) and Assisatant Director of the Zamora Shriners Ham Unit, he can be found on HF daily on 3.965 and on VHF on the Birmingham Amateur Radio Club (BARC) repeater on 146.88.

If you have any interest whatsoever in serving and giving back to your community, saving lives and taking part in the wonderful community of amateur radio please visit http://w4aga.com to learn about the many volunteer opportunities.

Ed is the Editor-In-Chief (sounds high-fallutin, don't it?) of the free online geocaching e-zine The Online Geocacher. He can be contacted via email at mailto:TheAlabamaRambler@gmail.com or by phone at 205-914-6814 from 7 a.m. to Midnight CDT.

73 de W4AGA