Welcome to the forum! First decide on what type of hunting you would like to do (relic, water, coins...etc.). Then determine your budget, machines sell about $ 200 - to very expensive. Then there is the basic accessories, pin pointer, extraction tools...etc. I wish you well in your new hobby!
If you have any questions, members here will be glad to assist you.
Welcome magickalfantasy,
This is my second season metal detecting and I have found it to be relaxing an addictive also. lol I hunt the beaches and in my self-talk I have called myself the pull tab king as I seem to find every aluminum pull tap that happened to find its way into Lake Michigan. Yet I still have that exciting expectation every time I dig a nonferrous signal.
If you're near N.W. Indiana perhaps we could meet and hit one of the beaches on Lake Michigan afterwards I usually end my day with a cold crafted beer at one of the local Micro Breweries.
SurgTech57