Here's how my lego experience has gone:
6 or 7 got my first set in the hospital. every time I was in the hospital I got a new set. I was in the hospital a LOT.
11 or so became embarrassed that I liked action figures. Strangely enough I used to hide my collection of star wars figures behind the boxes of Lego. (no I have no idea why).
16+ got over the bit about the action figures.
When I was at that age that I should have been in college a lot of my friends used to come over to my house just to check out my set up. sometimes it would be a castle, sometimes a space station, sometimes an island (after the pirates came out).
My wife, sometimes she gets it, sometimes she doesnt. But I will tell you the coolest thing ever:
My son and I walk into a store and we argue about who is going to get what out of a set. Alex and I have the greatest time ever with Lego. He told me the other day that its pretty cool that I still play with toys and he wants to be just like me when he grows up. (scary thought I know)
I hope that the part he holds onto is to
be who he is, and and
not what he thinks other people want him to be...
(did I say that right? do you get it?)
LEGO FREAK
All of my friends reconize my "hobby" as an obsession, but they take it pretty well. In fact, they think it downright cool. However, they themselves would rather be dead that be known as Lego fans by their friends. I try to keep it under wraps, but things like that just "come out" if you are in a conversation. I am proud of my hobby though, and I feel even more fortunate to belong in such a community where I can learn from others in regard to methods of building, certain techniques, etc. My greatest worry though is "What will I do when I go to college?" 
It is less then three years away, and I don't know what I will do. Drop Lego altogether? Split the collection with my siblings and take some with me? Leave the Legos here and start anew? Maybe Anthony or Jojo could help me here.
Let me think about this one.
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