Why Do We Do This?

[Nana40]

It's so hot in Alabama. Lisa and I went out this morning to hunt a new site. It's the lower end of an old orchard. The dirt had been moved around to smooth out the terraces so lots of stuff found scattered everywhere. Could be a modern cent at six inches or an old buckle right under the grass. As I was walking along, sweat pooling up in my sunglasses, my clothes feeling all yucky and sticking to me, my skin was all stinky from the mosquito spray and no real keepers to speak of, I asked myself, "Why in the heck do I think this is any kind of fun?" :P Then I reminded myself that nothing is gained by sitting around and not going on an adventure! I wouldn't have seen all the neat things I have seen over the past couple of years nor met all the new friends I have made along the way or found all this stuff I call my collection. Today I found a miner's tag...I once called them 'cow tags'..but thanks to MonDak and Lisa I now know what they really are.
Also found a neat button with a ship on it and a 1971 'New Penny' from England. A small bit of change and a smashed ring.

And all the junque...

Here a pic of one of those big ole red and black fuzzy ants. He was running around so fast it was difficult to get a good picture..

Lisa found this stone at the corner of the property and we assume it's a boundry marker? Has some kind of writing on it...

Last week we hunted a couple of places and nothing spectacular found..but had fun just the same. I'm thinking the round thing with the basket weave design is silver, but it's not marked.

So. Why do you hunt?

Nana

 

[downindixie]

Male Velvet Ants are winged and females are flightless. This is a male Cow Killer, Dasymutilla occidentalis.


Nana,be careful they have a very painful sting which can last several days!

Jim

 

[artemis moon]

"my better half took one look at my "treasures" and asked me when I was going to quit being foolish? Told her I guess when I am six feet under."

Just imagine the things you'll find when you are down that deep!

Seriously, I hunt because it's an extension of my love of history. It's also an adventure because it's different each time..you never know what's going to come out of the ground, and that's what makes you keep digging.

 

[Mirage]

Nice stuff. Miner's tag is neat as is the ship button.

I think we are on the same page as to why we do this. Sometimes you have to detect just cause you can. Plus you will really remember those "hard" hunts the most.

Bob

 

[tnredneck]

Nana,

To me its the mystery of the hunt....It's that feeling that there is something there and trying to find where they lost it. The anticipation of whether its that dime, quarter etc. that your detector says it is and then the smile that comes from seeing silver in the bottom of the hole. (although i get just as excited over an old dog tag or a token etc.)


HH and pray for rain...

Tnredneck

 

[au4me]

Nana,

I do it because I want To KNOW WHAT'S NEXT.

 

[Prober]

I'm in it for the money and jewelry. I never wonder who lost it, I'm just glad they did. Being retired I treat it as if its my job. Not very romantic am I.

 

[kakcsdad]

i'm with you on the heat... i am in nw fl and it is miserable with the humidity at 80 to 90 percent all the time, but it is still fun to get out at least for me to swing the coil....i call it therapy cuz i dont have to think all i have to do is swing it.......

by the way the fuzzy ant is called an elephant ant.

hh

 

[Baggins]

I hunt to be outside, get exercise, be with my thoughts, and there is always the thought of finding things left behind by others...it is the thrill of just "finding"!
Baggins

 

[ModernMiner]

Nana,
Neat post. I've never seen an ant that looks like that.
Congrats on your finds.

Why do we do this?
"I've got nowhere else to go!"
(In my Richard Gere "Officer and a Gentleman" crying voice)

You'll get em' next time.
I see you found my famous meatloaf recipe.

Have a great week,
MM

 

[Eljeef]

I do this to get away...from every little or not so little thing that can cause stress. I love the mystery of the next thing to come out of the ground. I love having a reward for my work, whether it be clad or something unique. Sometimes I just like to be by myself, and sometimes I like the camaraderie. If I can help somebody find lost jewelery or a property stake then that is just great too. There are many reasons and MD'ing is always a good response. Jeff.

P.S. I think this is your ant Nana.
http://www.samford.edu/schools/artsci/biology/zoology/invertzoo-05f/pages/133.htm
Btw, apparently this is actually a wasp and not an ant at all. I think I would avoid it.

 

[Monty]

I do it because someone told me it would cure ED. I saw Ed at the grocery store and sure 'nuff he feels a lot better. Monty
PS We use to call those fuzzy ants cow killers. I don't know why. I never saw any of them around a dead cow...just buzzards, oh and one 'possum.

 

[coinhunter53]

Ihunt to keep my health up. My Doc at the VA. is happy with my test results because I go out every day the weather permits. Oh yeah,...I just love to dig treasure, any treasure. HH...Jesse.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Why??

I have a lot of friends (and a wife) that don't understand the fascination I have with metal detecting. Sometimes they ask things like "find any treasure, lately?" I used to try to explain myself, but now I just laugh it off. They also ask what I do with the things I find, what is the most valuable thing I have found, and they ask if I sell them on ebay.

But I realize it is not about profit. Sure, it is a goal to find a valuable coin or jewelry, but it is more than that. When I find something that is 250 years old and I hold it in my hand I always have to stop and wonder who was the person that dropped the item, and how did they live? What was their life like? What where they doing here on this spot 250 years ago. I was always a local history buff, but now I can actually touch the history, and become one with the past.

The other reason I love MDing is the level of concentration necessary. When I am detecting, I have tuned out the world around me. I have forgotten about my job, I have forgotten for the moment about the everyday problems that surround me. (How many times have you been "snapped" out of your concentration by a person or a dog while you are detecting?) For me, Metal detecting is my Zen. My meditation. Unfortunately I don't have as much time lately as I would like to detect, but I cherish those few hours each week.

 

[piggman1]

I've done it since I was 10 years old and I'm now 51. I do it not only because of the history you learn, the exercise you get, or the things you find. I do it because I'm addicted to finding things, I don't care what, I just like to find things. It gets me out of the house. It keeps me out of trouble, well most of the time. And sometimes you find things that are really unique and no one else has. I think there is a certain gene that makes people treasure hunters, and people that don't have it, don't understand it either. Congrats on the finds! I think they're pretty neat!

 

[JerV3]

To get away from every body for awhile lol.

Still some nice looking finds. There is something wrong with us all. It's that treasure bug. The first glance at a valuable gets into your blood stream.

We love looking for that next best item. We don't care how hot or cold it may be. If something is there we'll almost risk our lives to get it.

HH Jer

 

[DIGGITALL]

THAT IS ACTUALLY A WASP TYPE BUG IT IS NOT REALLY AN ANT I LOOKED THEM UP ONCE I SEE THEM TN AND THEY BELONG TO THE WASP FAMILY OF BUGS

 

[Baldingboy]

To get away from my wife?

No really, it's the challange and hope of finding lost jewelry etc.....It's the HUNT and the ocassional score!

 

[CarolinaDigs]

I enjoyed your post

 

[willie d]

The other reason I love MDing is the level of concentration necessary. When I am detecting, I have tuned out the world around me. I have forgotten about my job, I have forgotten for the moment about the everyday problems that surround me. (How many times have you been "snapped" out of your concentration by a person or a dog while you are detecting?) For me, Metal detecting is my Zen. My meditation.

I couldn't of said it better myself. That and it keeps me out of the bell tower.

 

[bedpanmoneyman]

I orginally started this year when I retired and wanted another hobby along with golf. I've found MDing gets me up and going in the morning, looking forward to the hunt and mystery of what's in the ground. I was also able to help a lady find her wedding band she lost.....and I enjoy of art developing the skills needed to be a more successful hunter. Hopefully, in the near future I'll help develop a club here in SW Ohio and get to meet new friends as well.

bedpanmoneyman