I used to be a antiques dealer based near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Being a professional treasure hunter is awesome. You get the thrill of the hunt and the joy of the discovery. Then there's the puzzle of determining where it came from and what it is worth. And finally finding that person for whom it is perfect. As a profession, it can be pretty ideal - if you ignore the administrivia, the false finds, and craziness going on around you!
Current Status
Although I no longer buy and sell (this is not good for any genetic hoarding genes I may or may not), I can't help but keep a toe in the business - mostly keeping an eye out for things friends and family (and I) love and collect. The pandemic has limited many opportunities, obviously, and my primary job demands so much of time, but there's real joy in finding that exact thing (or close enough!) someone will just love.