Written by the Treasureguide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
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| Source: nhc.noaa.gov. |
So it looks like Tammy is making a turn and coming back to the west. Keep watching that even though it will probably fizzle out.
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| Source: surfguru.com |
The wind is increasing today. It looks like we'll be getting mostly east winds.
The tides are still pretty high.
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As you probably know, my mother recently passed away. As a result I've been spending a lot - and I do mean a lot - of time cleaning out her house. And she had a lot stuff, but not valuable stuff unless you count the sentimental value. Some of it is old enough that you might consider it historical. She kept things, but so did her mother, so the photos so some of the letters, notes, greeting cards, photos, etc. go back a few generations.
For most of her life she was very organized. Things were organized in boxes and folders, and organized groups were appropriately stapled together. But in her later years, she lost the organization, Things that she got out in the later years were not put back so orderly. You could find things where you'd never expect to find them, which means that it was necessary to check everything if you didn't want to miss something. And since I don't like to miss things, it has been a challenging and tiring task. I suppose some people would have simply tossed much of it into the trash, but that isn't me. You know by now that I find a lot of things interesting, and I found a lot interesting things.
I have a hard time tossing trashing things that my grandmother and mother kept, partly because they thought enough of those things, and that makes them important to me.
So what does all of that have to do with metal detecting? Quite a lot, actually. You can't keep things forever.
You can't take it with you. Eventually things deteriorate, get trashed or get passed on to someone that doesn't appreciate them the same way you do. Some of the things you kept for years will eventually get broken or trashed.
Selling things isn't a bad option - particularly when you can find someone else that appreciates those items.
Probably no one will appreciate your finds like you do. They didn't experience the hunt. They didn't experience the find. They didn't research the item. And since you went through all of that, your finds will likely mean more to you than anyone else. They are a part of your history. You have put a bit of yourself into your finds. They tell something about you, how you spent your time, and what kinds of things you valued.
I've also said this before, but caring for your items can increase their value. If you've been checking out the treasure auctions, the provenance of an item can increase its value. That means the history of the item must be documented.
Documenting your finds will also help you remember the details. I know I forgot a lot about finds that were made thirty or forty years ago. You assume that you'll remember, but time takes a toll.
When you find a new item, such as a wedding ring, that object probably has sentimental value to the owner and should be returned whenever possible. I post about returned finds every once in a while. Some go through quite a journey to find their way back to the original owner. That journey can become a part of a family's story and be passed down too.
Not everyone has the same sense of nostalgia. Some people just don't care much about the past. I'd say that treasure hunters generally appreciate history more than the average person, especially those who hunt older items.
Give a little thought to where your finds should eventually go. Maybe some of your best old finds should go to a museum or collector, or maybe they should be published or posted somewhere so that others have a chance to learn from them too.
Find someone that will love them. Preserve them and document them, then pass them on to the most appreciative recipient you can find. Help them continue the story.
One thing I've noticed is that the photos printed on paper have survived, whereas those stored on electronic media are no longer easily accessible. The technology changed and it is difficult to access things stored on old broken computers or outdated floppy disks.
When you share your finds online or wherever, others can learn from them. It can help you learn more about them too when others see them and share their comments. If nothing else, they become a part of the larger knowledge base to be shared by the larger community.
You never know, how seeing one of your finds might help someone else. It might be in a small way or a big way, but putting the item into public view provides a service and expands the significance of the item's story.
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Good hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net