I had an electronics bench when I was 13, started out with a Heathkit power supply, then an early digital voltmeter (since I couldn't read resistor codes very w

I had an electronics bench when I was 13, started out with a Heathkit power supply, then an early digital voltmeter (since I couldn't read resistor codes very well, being colorblind). My dad built a tube-based mono amplifier and radio. A few years later I built a kit computer (a very nice Digital Group Z-80 system). I still build kits and am getting back into tinkering with electronics after 35+ years of software hacking. Hardware keeps you honest about your abilities, and the smoke keeps you humble about your mistakes. :-)