Starting a new interest at 51 !!

[JaggedEdge]

My name is Steve Neece, and I live in Weatherford Ok. I have a shop in nearby Clinton. I am just getting my feet wet in the hobby. (I am, however, a gifted professional at lurking)
I have had a life long interest in restoring old trucks, and have always farmed out my paint and body work to local shops.
In recent years the cost of body work has left me searching for alternatives. The quality of "import" panels has declined, NOS panels (if you can find them) and "custom" work beyond the normal R+R of panels has gotten exhorbitant, and a lot of the local shops have gravitated towards mainly insurance work. So...
I joined several sites... read a million pages of info, bought David Gardiners DVD, and started collecting tools. I am having a rather gratifying time attempting to shape metal myself! Even though my scrap pile is reaching the limit!!
Of course, David makes it look so easy!!! I am amazed by the quality, craftmanship, and ability of the metalworkers who frequent these forums!!
I make my living as an electrician, and am getting ever closer to "pulling the plug" and retiring, and hope to have enough knowledge and skill by then to enjoy my hobby at a deeper level.
I have a nice "collection" (the little woman says if you have more than three of anything it constitutes a collection) of project vehicles, including a couple 1940 chevy trucks, a 61,63, and 66 Chevys, and a '53 International Travelall!! Most of them total rust buckets!!
I am looking forward to reading more on this site and learning from all of you!!
Thanks Kerry for the quick response to my membership!!