It seems like I may have answered this somewhere else but maybe I just thought I did, it is hard to tell anymore, laff.
One thing that bothers me a little is a post on one of the other boards asking, "How did you get into detecting"? I started in 2002 or 2003 but for the life of me I cannot remember how I got interested. I assume I saw something online and got interested but.. dang it I can't remember... but there are a lot of things in my life I can't remember, probably because I was an amateur pharmicist in my younger days.
I'll be 59 in January. I still detect but it seems these days I read and post more than I detect, but it is cold and I don't care for cold... and I don't care much for early mornings either... in fact I can do without late mornings, laff. I can pretty much go all day, (if I take my meds). In the spring, summer, and fall I will sometimes go out around lunch and hunt until nearly dark. My biggest problem these days is getting in a rut and not getting started. Then getting in a habit... a RUT. The arthritis gets a little worse every year, especailly in my upper back but it doesn't stop me, (as long as I take my meds).
I will continue to detect until someone makes me stop. Of course that will be after the days when I detect and say to my helper, "dig right there boy... and be careful not to scratch it!!"... "No, no... not like that... let me show you again how to dig a hole, give me that shovel... here hold this detector and don't scratch it!"
Maybe by then we will have a Hoveround detector. I bet I can figure out a way to attact a shaft and coil to the front of a Hoveround and get the government (that would be you) to pay for it! I guess i'll still have to have a kid to dig the targets and to verbally abuse...
I'm just kidding of course. I am a pretty nice guy, i'd probably end up paying someone more than it is worth to help me dig when I can no longer get up and down but maybe that day wont come, I am not really overweight, never have been... maybe i'll always be able to kneel and dig... getting up may take a little longer but I think i'll be able to manage it until the end. My dad is 92 and my mom will be 94 in Febuary, he still drives and he can walk but he does fall if he isn't careful... a detector and relic shovel should help me stay on my feet and help me get up off the ground. Time will tell I guess.
Anyway... 58 and still going. I've done some 8 hour hunts in the last few months, not as many as I used to but I don't have as many sites as I used to. My hunting partner is over 65. He does well too.
You are young! I wish I was still 50. I felt pretty much like a teenager until I was 30ish and I felt 3oish until I was near 50. Things seemed to begin to wear out faster from about 47 on. 47 was when I had to get glasses and when I began to have back pain... the last decade has come with more health changes than the first 5 decades (give or take)... and thanks to Obamacare ... well I wont go there....
Now get out there and dig up a treasure !!! I'll do the same (one afternoon when it is warmer).
Julien