My husband and I both loved collecting rocks when we were kids. In my adult years I continued to collect things, such as records, music boxes, snow globes and clocks. David collected coins and stamps, which he had done since childhood. We both enjoyed picking up pretty or unusual rocks when we traveled to the beach, desert or mountains. But, unlike our early casual dabbling, post-retirement rock collecting has become my husband’s number-one passion. I am not as avid as a rock collector as David, but still enough so that our children and some of our friends say: “You both have rocks in your heads.” We may not agree with their assessment, but we do have a home full of beautiful and rare rocks.
David collects primarily petrified wood, Stromatolites (the oldest form of living organisms preserved as rocks), marine fossils and agates. My primary interest in rocks, needless to say, is their color; I like red ones (of course!) and those that either sparkle or have brilliant colors or designs. David collects rocks from all over the world through other rock enthusiasts who are willing to part with some of their treasures on eBay or at rock shows. We have twice attended the world’s largest rock shows, which are held in Tucson, Arizona yearly, as well as those in Quartzsite. I have gathered most of my favorite rocks at rock shows or family outings.
When we first developed our interest in serious rock collecting, we started by joining two clubs in the Sacramento Area. We first joined the Sacramento Mineral Society, which introduced us to rock-working equipment. We learned the basics of cabochon making; one takes a stone and grinds and polishes it into an attractive shape suitable for setting into a piece of jewelry. The club also offered classes in wire wrapping, a process whereby one wraps stones in gold or silver wire to make jewelry. This was actually the first class I took. Other classes I took were Dichroic glass-making and bone carving. I was one of the first to sign up for both of those classes. I am still a beginner when it comes to any of these arts, but it is great fun practicing and giving away or wearing the works I make.
David has a real artistic flair for arrangement. Although he doesn’t make jewelry, he has created extraordinary rock displays throughout our home, at many rock shows, and even one at the Davis Senior Center. He always gets rave reviews from other rock enthusiasts, as well as from me. He has also done some rock cutting and shaping, rock polishing and rock tumbling. He purchased a piece of equipment from another club member to make rock spheres, but this is a skill he has yet to explore.
Our second rock club is called Fossils for Fun. The members not only collect and share information about fossils, but most of us are getting to that stage of life where we are beginning to fossilize ourselves. David has presented several educational talks at these meetings as well as joining the other members in show-and-tell of their latest treasured finds at each monthly meeting. Both our clubs and all our affiliate clubs sponsor rock shows as well as rock hounding field trips. At this stage we are still only contemplating the “roughing it and digging it out of the earth by hand “ experience. Our general armchair and rock show approach to collecting has been quite satisfying to both of us. But, who knows? We may yet dawn pith helmets, sunscreen, and jeans, grab our picks and shovels and head to the hills. We haven’t ruled it out.
If you’re ever near our neighborhood in Davis, please give us a call; we’d be happy to provide a personal rock tour. You, too, will understand after the tour why some folks believe we have rocks in our heads. But you will also have the opportunity to experience first hand the extraordinary rocks displayed in our house.
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