[DonRotolo]

Started as a shortwave listener when I was 8, capturing Chicago AM radio late at night in New Jersey using a plain clock radio. Finally met an Elmer (Amateur Radio mentor) at work after I graduated college, who dragged me kicking and screaming into my Novice license (which required 5 WPM Morse code at the time).

Rest in Peace, Ted Beauchamp KA2USU (Uncle Sam's Underwear)

Since then, I found myself mostly attracted to Digital modes, starting with Ax.25 Packet in the mid 1980's and lately with PSK31 which, as Al noted, can work the world on a watt.

In the meantime, studied a little and passed Technician and, later, when the 13 WPM code requirement was dropped, General.

You can learn a lot, and teach yourself even more, with the radio spectrum at your disposal. Kids, this knowledge will help you find and keep a job some day, trust me.