Welcome to the board, now WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???
(lol) Honestly, I don't know how you could have stayed away from quilting for so long, if you knew you wanted to go that way!
Almost 30 years ago, I bought myself a knitting machine (from the "proceeds" of a divorce), with the intent that it would be for my retirement. Since that time, technology has changed so much I'm afraid that purchase won't have been worth it. Add to that, I took up quilting, and love it! I hope someday to have a longarm machine. Trust me, it will not be packed up under the bed, like the knitting machine is.
Hope to see some pics from you soon!