Check and see if there is an Archaeology or History club in your area. They usually announce their meetings in the local paper, or you could ask at the library. Summer time they are usually not as active because of the heat. It may seem like a lot of trouble to get involved with a club, but it will pay off with some new contacts, new friends and some good advice, invites, and club activities/hunts with folks that are experienced in the hobby.That also will prove to apply to the metal detecting aspect also, as the Archaeology community is in some cases taking a more favorable look at detector folks. Especially the non professonial arch. folks, and that is a good way to improve overall relations, and meet some great contacts.