WoW!! What great stories you all tell.
I think I quilt to help me make a link to my ancestors. My grandmother left the Mennonite community to marry my grandfather and I love those old Mennonite quilts..... Amish ones, too. My grandmother didn't quilt that I remember and my mother didn't sew either. But, I know my sewing skills and quilting love must stem from my Mennonite ancestors. And, I'm proud of that heritage.
I also love to tackle a challenge and quilting can challenge me when I choose it to. Learning to applique was a stretch for me years ago. I still struggle with Y-seams and love to learn new things.
When I first started quilting I didn't have any friends or close family that quilted but I have infected many with my quilting disease. Everyone around me knows how much I love to quilt.... and collect old sewing items and they give me antique or vintage sewing tools, etc. for my birthday and Christmas. I love that part, too.
Okay, that's my story.....