I was exactly the same; once, just once, one of my friends told me his Dad was into electronics; he showed me a room full of his Heathkit kits in various stages

I was exactly the same; once, just once, one of my friends told me his Dad was into electronics; he showed me a room full of his Heathkit kits in various stages of construction (I remember the full-size organ). But we moved that summer before I could ever meet him - he may or may not wanted to mentor someone in grade school, but I was so very eager to learn.