| When we first got married, my husband and I | | | | - Put it on a white office eraser (you can get this at |
| decided to try to do a date night every 2 weeks. | | | | any office store) and rub along the edge with a |
| We would take turns picking the activity. | | | | pencil to transfer the image onto the eraser. |
| Our very first date night was my choice. I decided to | | | | - Cut the picture into the eraser with a utility knife. |
| try something I had only heard about: letterboxing. | | | | - Make sure you test it periodically on a piece of |
| For those of you who have never heard of it, it's like | | | | paper and then cut away any excess eraser that is |
| a big nation-wide treasure hunt. | | | | making a mark, but shouldn't. |
| It is actually world-wide because it started in England. | | | | We both made different stamps and then picked the |
| Letterboxing is a hobby. Hidden around the country, | | | | best one. The following week, it was off to find our |
| usually on trails in the woods but not exclusively, are | | | | first box. I had printed the clues that I found on the |
| plastic containers. They're all over, but unless you | | | | website letterboxing.org. It wasn't very far from our |
| know to look for them, you'll probably never stumble | | | | house. Funny, I had never noticed a trail head there |
| upon one accidentally, although that isn't totally | | | | before. |
| impossible. | | | | Fortunately we picked an easy box to find. The |
| Inside the container is a rubber stamp and a log book. | | | | directions were pretty straightforward. They led us |
| When you go to find these containers, you bring with | | | | on a hike of about 1/2 mile through conservation land. |
| you your own rubber stamp that expresses you in | | | | We passed by a small pond and ended up at a |
| some way and your own log book. | | | | chimney. I guess chimneys in the middle of the |
| You stamp the rubber stamp from the box into your | | | | woods are not uncommon in New England . They're |
| logbook to show you've found it, and you stamp | | | | all that is left of what was once a house. |
| your own personal rubber stamp into the book of | | | | Behind the chimney was a very conspicuous pile of |
| the container to prove you've been there. | | | | rocks. I wouldn't have noticed them if I hadn't been |
| So in essence, you are collecting stamps. But you | | | | looking, but they couldn't be missed. And underneath |
| don't need a passport. | | | | was our very first letterbox. |
| In preparation of date night, we needed a stamp. | | | | After doing letterboxing for a few months, my |
| Some people just buy one but lots of people make | | | | husband decided it wasn't for him. But I've since met |
| their own and it isn't that hard. | | | | many couples who enjoy the activity together. One |
| - Find a picture on Google images. For a first-time | | | | husband and wife team have found over 20,000 |
| stamp, a silhouette is easiest. My husband found a | | | | boxes together. |
| dog that just happened to look exactly like ours. | | | | So if you enjoy the spirit of a good old treasure |
| - Print it out. | | | | hunt, try letterboxing for date night. |
| - Cut out the picture. | | | | |