Gold prospecting has long been a favorite past-time for people looking to make an extra few dollars. In The Great Depression gold prospecting was more than a hobby, it was how many man made a living. When there was little or no government support for out of work workers a person had to work to eat. When there were no jobs to be found, gold was literally a way to print money.
Today, gold mining is still a way to make money without a job. With the barest minimum of equipment it is possible to head into the hills and come home rich. You can increase your odds by learning how to find gold and equipping yourself with the right gold mining tools, but there is still nothing to stop you grabbing a gold pan and trying your luck.
Do not make the mistake of believing that gold prospecting is easy money. It is not. Although, gold mining today is a much easier task than it was when many men were driven into the gold fields last century. Today, most prospectors can sleep in the comfort of their own bed, or a hotel bed, at nights. Even if they choose to sleep in a tent, they have many of the comforts of home plus the added safety of GPS units and Cell phones in case of emergency.
Gold prospecting equipment is also much more advanced today. There are metal detectors, plastic sluice boxes, and portable pumps that can all increase the efficiency of the gold mining operation. Gold recovery is much more efficient too. The tools used by the old timers were not set up to capture the fine gold efficiently, and even much of the heavier gold managed to escape them.
All the advantages of the modern gold miner do not guarantee great riches, but it is possible to make money without a job, which is good if you don’t have a job. It also means that you can work when you want to, and not have to work when you are told to. How many of us would rather fire our boss and set out on an outdoor adventure than turn up to our boring jobs day after day?
At almost $2000 US dollars an ounce, it doesn’t take too much gold to replace the income from an average job. And there is always that small possibility that you might find that big nugget that will set you up for life. It is potential of great reward that spurs many prospectors on, just as it is why the lottery and casinos are so popular.
Most people have the dream of making money without a job – the successful gold prospector lives that dream.
