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Diamond hunting

First of all let me admit that I really didn't think this through.  Diamond hunting at the park (link) involves lots of physical labor!  Digging holes, lugging buckets of dirt around, sifting all that dirt through a screen or in muddy water.  Considering that it was over 85 degrees yesterday, this was a bad idea.  Ugh!


But I paid my $10 and went out into the "mine" and walked around some.  I saw one little, tinny stone that may or may not have been a diamond and I put it in my pocket.  But I couldn't find it later even though I know that pocket doesn't have a hole in it.  Oh well.


I then went into Murfreesboro to look around and have lunch.  This is such a pretty part of the country.  

 
I drove back to The Village, as locals call Hot Springs Village, and I drove around some more.  Everything is designed very well.  When driving the main roads you really can't see any homes and it feels like you're in the woods.  There are a few restaurants, gas stations, stores, etc. in The Village.  But not nearly as many as I would expect for this population size.  But there are a lot of services just outside The Village gates.

I stopped at a pub for dinner and met more locals who all told me how wonderful it is to live in The Village.  All very nice people...but made me realize that I'm not ready to live in a retirement community (approximately 80% retirees in The Village). 

Today I'm going to explore Hot Springs!  I drove through there yesterday and I'm excited to see the historic baths.





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