If you’re bored or disillusioned with the high-tech, fast-paced feel of the modern day, try a hobby that evokes the thrill of fascinating treasure hunts of centuries past. Searching for hidden gems or treasures is mentally engaging and highly rewarding. If you want to feel like a treasure hunter, try one of these unique hobbies to keep your mind active and focused.
Foraging
Do you live in an area with abundant plant life? There’s a decent chance that many of those plants are edible and delicious. Read up on the plant species native to your area and start going on regular nature walks, practicing your identification skills as you go. Bring a botany guide or download a foraging app on your phone as an additional resource.
Dumpster Diving
You can find a wide variety of like-new items for free if you know where to look. Dumpster diving is completely legal in Canada as long as you are on public property and aren’t breaking and entering anywhere. Look in dumpsters behind malls and large storefronts for items those stores can’t sell.
Pro Tip:
When you go dumpster diving, wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. When you come home, take a shower right away and clean off any treasures you brought home with you.
Antiquing
Visit any antique malls or flea markets in your area and get ready to hunt for hidden treasures. Many antique shops are filled to the ceiling with old collectibles, obscure media, and vintage decorative pieces. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can easily spend a whole day sifting through another person’s trash to find treasures for yourself.
Metal Detecting
A common hobby among beachgoers, metal detecting is a highly rewarding hobby, even if you don’t live near the water. City parks, campgrounds, and historic churches are also great places to bring your metal detector to search for old coins and jewelry. Brush up on the basics of metal detecting before you take your detector out for a leisurely—and possibly highly lucrative—outdoor walk.
If you’ve grown complacent with your life as it is, a new hobby can shake up your mindset and give you a new set of goals. Want to feel like a treasure hunter? Give these pastimes a try. You never know what you’ll find when you set out on your search, and that’s the beauty of it!
Image credit: file #222113606 Coins searching. By Dmitriy
