In 1985 I bought a Winchester 1894 in .30-30 right after I turned 18 from Seagle’s Guns in Oakland, Ca. I always wanted a gun like my Grandfather had in the cabinet on the ranch. I had to sell this gun a few years later to pay the rent after I lost my job, but to this day still have 4 1894’s in the safe...
Second gun I bought shortly after was a Browning A-bolt in .338 Win Mag. I wanted an elk gun like my Dads .300 Weatherby... for the elk hunt we always wanted to do together. This gun, too was sold so I could stay dry in the Humboldt rain... and (regrettably) we never did get to go on an elk hunt either. Ironically Dad gave me the Weatherby about two years ago... and I still haven’t shot it yet.
Times and circumstances certainly do change, and I am doing a hell of a lot better than I ever thought I would do (I haven’t had to sell anything to eat since my college days), but the constant has always been my love for firearms and shooting has never waned.
Stay safe!