Hey Shelley, welcome aboard and glad to meet you.
Some of us just like this fabric stuff. I didn't start as early as you, but decided when I was a senior in high school that I wanted to make a quilt to take to college. I don't come from a family tradition of quilting and was self-taught before the rotary revolution. I like the modern tools and methods!
I was active in the on-line quilting community around Y2K and then lucky enough to find a wonderful man while playing a game on the internet. That was in February 2001 and we've been married for 16 years now I think -- 17 in November (so funny, I am the one terrible on dates). We have 3 smaller dogs, 18-25 pound ish. A very large cat (ditto on size), and some various reptiles. I was quilting the entire time, but only came back on-line quilting wise a couple of years ago.
I was so happy to find this board. The support, help and creativity of our board members is outstanding. Enough that I've stopped any magazine subscriptions because this is just better.