$20.32

Craig and I have a mason jar that sits on our bookshelf in our new multipurpose room (aka "the quiet room"). It once was a jelly jar, but the chameleon-like contents filled their previous space and needed a new jar. The contents have filled two-thirds of the mason jar and we hope to graduate to a larger jar soon. Time shall tell if our new neighborhood will bring more rewards.

Occasionally I take the jar off the shelf and pour the contents onto the table. I began collecting found money on June 28, 2010. Craig joined me in the search a few months into the endeavor. The three of us just celebrated our 3 year anniversary. After 3 years, I'm proud to announce that the collection we affectionately call our retirement fund officially surpassed the $20 mark. I know people who have found $20 and even $50 in just one lucky moment (our biggest finds have been several quarters in one spot and a single dollar bill). I hope to someday add such a remarkable find to our jar, but for now our small findings here and there have been thrilling. It's a great day when one of us comes home and gets to show off our findings. A text from Craig once stated, "Regarding finding lost coins, today I’ve hit for the cycle." The coworker who stood nearby when I read this message didn't even understand the reference, let alone share in my joy of the news. I guess this is our own special challenge.

We've worked hard for our annual earnings of six dollars and seventy-seven cents. We're the only people I know who will bend down to pick up a mere penny, but it's worth it to us. I'll take it one step further. We're the only people I know who have back-tracked to where a penny was spotted earlier so that we could pick it out of the tar. Craig has been known to get off his bike during a work-commute to pick up a coin in the intersection. I've waited until the end of the line getting on a bus so I could pick up the nickel that I just noticed on the curb. Once on the bus, I've casually switched seats to snag the dime stuck in a corner. Craig consistently found coins in the gym locker room. I find money on runs. Many of our evening walks or strolls to the store have included a find.

Some coins have waited quite some time to be found and require examination before we can decide what type of coin we've acquired.

Some coins had only recently lost their previous owner.

But all of them have some hidden story. We keep all our stories and adventures in our mason jar on the bookshelf. Someday we will retire with our earnings and our memories.