We have GDXJ in my wife's retirement account and has had a great return even with the ups and downs. I've made good money in gold stocks but they are volatile and it's probably best to take profits along the way.
This is time of year I find them dead on my porch, my cat gets busy. I'd prefer he concentrate on the mice who have been shitting in my basement but I guess I'll have to do my part.
They make a ton of money opening and closing the systems. One guy I met said he didn't have to put another system in and he could live off the ones he services.
I pay some kids $250 to do it and I don't lose two weekends every fall and hit the golf course instead. I used to do a combination of chopping up leaves, bagging some and blowing some. Don't miss it.
I remember going on a class trip in 1978 to Waldens Pond and the colors were the most vibrant I've ever seen. Not sure what the weather was that year leading up to the fall but I think it was the best I've ever seen.