I started playing (AD&D 2nd Ed) in the late 70s/early 80s, after my dad saw a write up of it in the New York Times and said it sounded like something I'd like. I founded a D&D club at my (Catholic) highschool, and we'd "compete" against the public high school. The best place to buy manuals, scenarios, and dice used to be Toys R Us. I drifted away after graduating college. Euro games work better for busy adults who can't all make it to every gaming group meeting.