Welcome to our new friends!
I've been quilting for ~~ 30 years. At one point in my quilting career, I owned a quilt shop for about 5 years and closed it the summer before the big financial crash in 2008. What an adventure! If I ever win the lottery, I'd open another quilt shop in a heartbeat.
I'm divorced and have 2 grown children. My son retired from the Army last year and my daughter lives here in So Cal, approx. 1/2 an hour away. I'm a cardiac nurse so I laughed when I read Kassaudra's comment about 'inappropriate humor'. Me too! Otherwise, I'd go a little crazy. It's a survival mechanism. Yes, quilting is for my mental health and it's a heck of a lot cheaper that going to a shrink and a lot more fun.
I bought a Singer Featherweight 2 years ago and her name is Lovely. I, too enjoy piecing more than anything else. I have been practicing with some machine quilting ((not sure I'd call it 'free motion')) on some mini quilts in another swap on this board. I figure I can manage smaller quilts.
My other joy right now is Swing dancing which I've been doing for the past 5 years. Love the dancing and love the music!