Howdy Diggler!
Tell you what. If you gaze out the door one day in the next few, and see somebody over there with a detector, you can almost bet your best digger that'll be me! You've made it sound entirely too tempting. Of course, I have something you don't. Pipster. With him to watch my back, I think we'd be able to cope with most any problem. Aside from which, while travelling, we'd be armed with more than just detectors! There are better choices for muggery, so that only leaves gold! LOL! You're just making the whole thing sound better and better.
I do want to compliment you for your grasp of where the gold is found. Yeppers. Some folks would think it would be in affluent neighborhoods. Nope. It is usually in middle to lower class neighborhoods and of those, especially in one particular demographic group more than all others. Them's the neighborhoods we routinely hunt. We seldom hunt the better neighborhoods, and are forever on alert while we hunt. Never been accosted yet, but are prepared if that should come to pass. Here in Denver/Aurora/Front Range at large, we boldly stroll into the worst neighborhoods in town and exemplify confidence. By day, at night, doesn't matter. We don't go in fear. Never had a problem. Never needed any of the firepower we have available either.
Whenever I've been approached by anybody in such neighborhoods and asked if I ain't a little nervous about being there, I just smile and ask Why? Are you nervous? That usually is enough to unnerve them and they walk away. They tell others, and word gets around that the old dude in the park is scary or something. I don't much care. I get left alone. (so far, so good!)
The only time I really had an attack, or attempted mugging, it was a kid around 8 years old named Mordachai!
Didn't really need to draw down on him though, which is almost a disappointment! LOL!
Blessings,
M-Taliesin