I used Linux pretty early on but I didn't use it as a desktop OS (exclusive of all other desktop OSes) until 2007. My business was a DEC business before becoming a Sun shop. We mostly used Sun hardware (and Solaris/SunOS, a UNIX) on the server side. So, I had some familiarity coming into it. Plus, as a geek, I'd toyed with Linux on the desktop lots of times. I just didn't use it exclusively until 2007. Since then, I've largely approached it as an academic pursuit. I'm actually a well-respected, modestly-known member of the community. I've made it a point to give back to the community in ways that I could, even from the start. I'd find questions and then recreate the situation to find solutions when nobody else knew the answer. Today, I'm a recognized Ubuntu member (able to speak for and represent Ubuntu) and moderate one of the largest Linux forums online. Linux has been a fun hobby for me. Now if I'd stop buying servers... In the past two weeks, I've rented two new VPSes for two new projects. I pretty much suck at being retired. In theory, I should be sipping whiskey while chilling with the wife and ignoring the internet. Instead, we're watching cartoons while I keep up with my online obligations. I'm always obligating myself to something new. I guess 8 would be a pretty young time to get involved in Linux. That probably helps in the long term. Rather than learn a bunch of bad habits with other operating systems, you've learned to administrate your own boxes. With this, you'll have a better understanding of what the computer is really doing under the hood than people in your same age category.