Just a Poll: Anyone discover gardening "late?"

Wondering if there are any others like me who have missed DECADES of good gardening time by having only discovered gardening when they were "older." That's not to say you were "old" when you discovered you loved gardening, only your perception that you missed good quality gardening time by wasting (?) it on other pursuits that (in hindsight) were not worth your time.

Are you trying to 'catch up' or 'make up lost time?' How?

I'm over 40 and have only been gardening for a few years. I kick myself for not discovering it until I had a "need" to (built my OWN house).
Making up time? You betcha! I'm ripping up every patch of lawn I can and putting in everything I can get my hands on just to be able to 'play in the dirt.' I absolutely love gardening, and wish I had not WASTED many years pursuing useless other ventures, or not finding my hobby sooner.
(I'm also sitting in a "job" until such time as I am inspired to know what I want to do when I grow up, which is another topic altogether.)

I didn't discover it until...eh hem...I was forty. Forty-seven now and loving every minute.

Kwanjin

P.S. Follow the link...

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/765351/

I just discovered it about 4 years ago at the not too terribly old age of 31. I did some gardening before that--I remember planting 4 o'clocks and weeding the strawberry bed when I was a kid, and pruning my Mom's barberry hedge because it bothered me that it looked so horrible and overgrown. And when I finished school and was living in Ohio, I had a few house plants and containers, and had a garden that I inherited from the previous owners of my house and I took care of it, but I didn't really get into gardening until I moved to CA and bought my first house out here. I was really excited about all the new plants that I had never seen before, and before I knew it I was hooked!

I've been gardening for many years but didn't get time to get seriously involved until I retired two years ago (at the ripe ol' age of 55 1/2). Like you Birds, hubby and I built our own house too. After we were done, landscaping took up a LOT of my time (hubby isn't in to plants). It's been a long process but I have enjoyed every day of it. With 5 1/2 acres to play with, it looks like I will be getting to play in the dirt for quite a few more years, lol. But I really do enjoy it. I learn something new all the time.

I to have discovered gardening and landscaping about ayear ago at 31, now that I have finally grown up I took it to a different level and now pursuing a career in it, it gives me such pleasure and joy Im happy to have found a web site where people share the same interest If anybody on daves garden lives anywhere near Crystal River florida, a gardening buddy would be great .My children and hubby usually run when I start in on my gardening. the only one, who enjoys my hobbie is my 7 month old at the moment. LoL
Katherine