I thought I was reading my own biography until I saw it was Consul's name on the post.
I have always had a passion for music, though not blessed with an abundance of talent. Son of a band director, started playing in rock bands in high school, always thought record producing would be a great job.
Ended up in television instead, but always kept a hand in music recording. In 1980 I bought a Portastudio and found a passion. Recorded a lot of friends along with a few of my own songs, did a few jingles, made some backing tapes for theatre, but never found the opportunity to make it a career.
Now, rapidly approaching 50, the passion still burns, but with the urgency of middle-aged realizations that time is running out. I'll probably never go pro, too hard to start over (unless I win a lottery) so I'll stick with my computer-based recording rig, buy a few cool toys as the budget (and wife) allows, and make CDs for my friends and family.
My gift in life seems to be the ability to get "pretty good" at anything I take up. So I've tinkered in music, electronics, computers, home repair, stained glass, concrete sculpture, graphic design, beermaking, drawing comics, making funny T-shirts, etc. I'm designing and building a house right now.
I gave up the rock star dream many moons ago, but I still have some musical ambitions I need to satisfy before I end up in a rocking chair, diapered and drooling. Fortunately, it's a hobby I think I can enjoy for decades to come.