I've been reading in a lot of posts lately about modellers returning to the hobby after (insert your # here) years. What was it that made you leave ? What was it that drew you back ? I'm sure there are a lot of similar stories out there, and some may be very interesting.
I stopped modelling in my early teens. Thats when I "discovered" the world of wine, women, and song. After losing EVERYTHING I owned 3 times because of alcoholism, I quit drinking ten years ago. At the end of my drinking "career," I lacerated the Flexor Tendons (i.e. cutting through to the bone) on two fingers of my right hand (I'm right-handed). Without alcohol, I needed to return to the person that I used to be, and that person built models. I found the dextarity necessary for model building actually helped me recover most of the use of my hand. Spending money on kits, and all the associated "necessities," left nothing for alcohol. I also aquired patience, which is a useful tool in any recovery. I guess I could say that I almost owe my life to modelling, as I don't know where I would be without it.