Regarding our hobby and model trains, I am thankful my wife noticed a Lionel sign glowing in a LHS window, back in 1994, as we drove by. An immediate visit there informed me that other folks everywhere (!!!!!) had, also, saved their family's old trains (#1666 & a Scout, in our case) and that a whole lot of people were interested in still having and running trains, AND that a whole industry existed making trains, details, buildings, etc. available.
Before that, I had no idea, having been otherwise occupied and absorbed with other stuff.
My heavy involvement hasn't stopped since then. People I have met in our hobby have become treasures to me; the trains are treasures; my little business of Layout Refinements has become a personal treasure, and a whole lot of fun!
FrankM.