Written by the Treasuregiude for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
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| Source: nhc.noaa.gov |
There are some small cuts around the Treasure Coast today.
You probably didn't notice the eclipse yesterday unless you had the glasses or were able to catch a glimpse of it through the clouds yesterday. I used a sun filter that I've used to take photos with my telescope and could see the shadow covered a good bit of the sun - I'd say 80 percent or more - even though the day stayed fairly bright.
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When talking about a particular find, you sometimes hear treasure hunters say they'd never sell the item. You often hear the same thing about certain items on Antiques Roadshow. Maybe the item is never sold, but the item still changes hands at some point. It gets passed on to someone else eventually - if it is not broken, lost or stolen before it gets passed on.
It is true that you can not take it with you. At some point, if the item survives, someone else will own it even if you don't pass it on. They may or may not appreciate the item as much as the original owner. Family members are not always interested in the things that were always around.
I've seen many times on American Pickers, for example, that a collector decides to sell his collection because he doesn't want his family to have to deal with the collection when he goes. They will often not have the knowledge to know the significance of the items, and will not be able to sell them well. Too often they are sold for a small fraction of their value. There will seldom be someone that has the same appreciation and knowledge about a collection as the person that put it together. I don't suppose anyone else could possibly have the same appreciation as the person that actually went out and found the items. The hunter or collector was motivated. There was something within that person that drove them to find those items that were so special to them in some way. That person experienced the hunt and the find. They have that cherished memory. The cost, whether it was effort, time or money, became part of them, as well as the reward. They alone had that experience. And it became a part of them.
A relationship with an item isn't nearly as much fun unless it is shared. I don't know many families that actually share treasure hunting as a family activity. You don't see many husband and wife teams in the field, or many mother/daughter teams out metal detecting.
I occasionally see a parent and child metal detecting, but not often. Usually the child is a boy in the area of maybe ten to thirteen years of age.
It is not often that you see a teenage treasure hunter or even someone in their early twenties. I know there must be exceptions, but mostly when I'm out I see people that look like they've been in the sun for at least a few years, if not decades. But that isn't my point.
There are some people that have hunting partners or buddies, but the ones I see are mostly hunting alone. If there is another family member present, one is usually swinging the detector, while the other sits and watches, or in some cases carries the scoop or maybe does a little digging.
I've seen a good number of husband/wife teams trying out a new detector while on vacation or something. That usually doesn't seem to last very long. If it sticks for one, the other tends to become less involved.
My feeling is that for a lot of hard core detectorists, metal detecting is a quiet, deep, meditative, and perhaps spiritual experience. It is savored. All the senses are alive, but the mind is focused on the activity. Then there is the find, which becomes a new center of attention, study, and finally sharing.
I think the word "atunement" might describe it. Not only is the detector finely tuned, but so are the mind and senses. They are focused on that one objective.
You might also notice on American Pickers how the owner enjoys sharing his or her appreciation for an item. Many don't want to sell their cherished items, but that can change when they discover that someone else appreciates the item like they do. They know they can't hold onto the item forever and they'd like it to go to a good home where it will be cared for and appreciated.
Personally I would rather sell an item if that means finding the best home for it. You never know what will happen to an item. Too often they are neglected, broken, lost or sold for a very small fraction of their worth. It will not own it forever, and selling it might be the best thing in some cases.
Items that are sold through good auction houses are studied and publicized. That is a good thing. Auction catalogs provide great reference works. And the item has a good chance of ending up with someone that really appreciates it and passes it on well again.
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Keep good records of your finds and what you learn about them. That can be important in many different ways.
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
