I started homebrewing in '78 - mashing and sparging through a Coleman cooler. A few years later, met some guys though my Bay Area homebrewing clubs - Dean Biersch, Dan Gordon, Martin (John and Reid of Big Time and Triple Rock, fka Rolling Rock).

Gave it up for good when microbrewing hit its first "fad peak" back in the late 80s. That said, it is a fun and creative thing to do, especially once you are doing your own grain manipulation (no extracts) and recipe creation. Do it and enjoy. You'll have more friends too.