Petrified dung to fireplace agates to amethysts, Duncan shop ...

At seventy seven-years-old Duncan resident Doug Barlow has come to an inescapable conclusion. Retirement is not for him.

the primary time Barlow tried to retire he was 53 and idea 32 years with El Paso herbal gas turned into enough. It didn’t take long for him to lose interest, notwithstanding, and he went to work for Greenlee County running the fairgrounds. After eight years, he determined to are attempting retirement again. It didn’t take.

He spent 5 - 6 years working at a comfort save and tried again.

nowadays, Barlow spends his days running his personal company, Rock A buy Rocks & presents on old West toll road in Duncan.

The substantial majority of the keep is taken up with shows of lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite, azurite, petrified wood, chrysocolla, tanzanite and petrified dinosaur dung, just to identify a few.

The front quarter of the keep is full of rings and handmade cleaning soap offered on consignment. Brightly colored crocheted scarves, hats and baby clothing are additionally on monitor â€" all made by Barlow himself.

When Barlow become seven, he came down with yellow jaundice and couldn’t go to college.

“i used to be riding my mother loopy so she taught me a way to crochet and that i’ve been crocheting on and off ever considering,” Barlow said.

He acquired teased fairly a little bit, but he has all the time found it to be enjoyable.

One may anticipate that given that Barlow labored for El Paso gas for thus long and now owns a rock store he ought to be a geologist, however they’d be wrong. He began out as a laborer and retired as a supervisor.

He started rock searching with his brother as a kid, however he purchased the shop in 2014 for his nephew in the beginning. because it turns out, he grew to adore it so lots he figures he’ll die earlier than he decides to retire again.

nonetheless, he doesn’t consider himself an authority.

“I be taught a new rock every day,” Barlow noted.

The Rock A buy attracts people from all over the world, Barlow pointed out. He’s had americans discuss with from every state except Vermont and New Hampshire, Siberia, Switzerland, China, Canada and Australia.

He nonetheless receives tickled when he remembers the guy traveling from Russia who requested him what he knew about his nation. Barlow recalls how irritated he bought when Barlow instructed him he idea the simplest individuals in Siberia had been those that received into some kind of main issue.

He mentioned he just loves rock hounders.

“Rock hounders are probably the most honest individuals on this planet,” Barlow spoke of. “I’ve had no concern with pocket pickers and that i’ll even settle for checks from them. I’ve on no account obtained a bad investigate.”

lots of those that come talk over with his shop are on the hunt for hearth agates, a semi-valuable gemstone shaped by fantastically contemporary volcanic endeavor, Barlow talked about.

many of them had been found on the Lazy B Ranch in Duncan, the ranch where U.S. Supreme court docket Justice Sandra Day O’Connor grew up, he talked about.

In previous years, Barlow used to take friends to the ranch to hunt for them, however the ranch has modified arms, making it extra difficult.

There are plenty of other locations in the area to take individuals intent on discovering hidden treasures and he’s all the time chuffed to, Barlow mentioned. really, he goes looking for himself on every occasion he receives the probability.

He is aware of all the top of the line locations to seek particular rocks, the most appropriate path to get there and which houses to keep away from.

“which you could locate any rock you desire available,” he talked about.

iciness is his busy season, Barlow talked about. Snow birds will make a day-travel to Duncan and folk who visit the Tucson Gem and Mineral reveal in February will frequently swing out of their manner on their home domestic to seek advice from his store.

He doesn’t attend the Tucson reveal because he finds it too expensive. The gadgets he sells he either collects himself, receives from other purchasers he’s gotten to know over the years or from local people looking to buy or change.

despite the fact fireplace agates and amethysts are rather accepted, Barlow referred to “every person has their personal private ideas on what they like.”

“lots of ladies must have a rock communicate to them earlier than they’ll purchase it,” Barlow observed.

When individuals inform him they’re going hunting, Barlow gives them counsel about carrying water and snacks, looking at out for rattlesnakes and pack rat dens. He additionally warns them they might also now not have phone provider.

The no 1 aspect, despite the fact?

“I inform them, ‘I’ve got to warn you. It’s addictive. if you get one rock, you’re going to be hooked,’” Barlow pointed out.