It's wonderful to have an opportunity to tell Rich and the moderators as often as we can what a wonderful forum and community this is. So, OP, thanks for getting the ball rolling. And the breadth of things to learn, read, and post about adds so much to the experience (e.x., modeling, tools, real trains, photos, etc.).
I work full time and do long distance eldercare seven days a week, and on top of that, I'm trying to get my doctorate in American History -- shall we say, rather late in life. My thesis combines religion, law, the Constitution, rioting, and politics. (Yeah, I know, all the stuff you shouldn't talk about at the dinner table or with company.) So, I kinda have to read and process the daily news, and think about it "critically" as my supervisor would say.
When it's time to relax and "visit" with neat people, expand my horizons, learn new things, keep creativity alive, and most importantly, just have a good honest laugh, I know that I can count on this forum.
(Sitting on the floor mindlessly watching a train run in circles works pretty well, too.)
Thanks to you all for creating and maintaining a consistently wonderful community.
Tomlinson Run Railroad