Hi from Northern New Jersey!

[PJ Gomez]

Hi everyone!

My name is PJ and I've been emerging from dark ages for the last few years, picking up speed in the last year or so. I'm in my mid 30s and grew up during what I would consider LEGO's golden age of the 80s. I've got most of the town sets from my busiest LEGO years of 1988-1992 and luckily, Mom and Dad thought they'd be great for any kids I had and kept them boxed away.

About four years ago my girlfriend (now wife) gave me the City House (8403) as a Christmas gift. That was the catalyst I needed to re-emerge (mostly a confirmation that she thought it was OK ). Pretty quickly after that I started acquiring the modular buildings (Pet Shop, Fire Brigade, Grand Emporium, etc). Two years ago we bought our first home in northern NJ and within days my parents dropped off the LEGO sets from my youth, many of them still fully or partially assembled.

I've been enjoying my time in the light again, building old sets, playing with LEGO Digital Designer, buying too many new sets (why are the sets I want now so much more expensive then the ones I wanted as a kid???). Thanks to everyone for giving me a great place to come for reviews, awesome MOCs, and some real interesting LEGO discussions!

-PJ

[weeble1688]

Hi PJ! Welcome to Eurobricks! There is a Lego User Group in New Jersey - GardenSLUG. We'd love to see you at one of our events - check us out at gardenslug.org or on facebook. Hope to see you soon!

[emilstorm]

Welcome to the forum PJ! I think we grew up building the same sets :) mid 80's to mid 90's city and castle are still some of my favorite sets of all time :)

[PJ Gomez]

@weeble1688, I recently went to the Philly Brickfest and was blown away by the layouts, its one thing to see them online, but getting a chance to see them up close is a whole different experience. I'll definitely check out GardenSLUG (awesome name BTW) and try to come out to some events and meet you all!

@emilstorm, they really were some of the best sets. I was truly amazed at how intact most of my sets were when my parents brought them over. Definitely missing some parts and 2 sets (3179 and 6693) but overall I think I counted somewhere close to 100 sets.

[emilstorm]

That's quite a treasure:) Unfortunately the sewers flooded my basement and the sewage got into a bit of my childhood stuff. I usually don't keep those sets assembled, but build my own stuff, but I had quite a lot of 12v train sets. If it hadn't been for the flooding, most of those were as good as new too. These bricks never cease to amaze me :)

[Leo604]

Welcome to Eurobricks!

[StickFig]

I would consider LEGO's golden age of the 80s.

Hahahaha I agreed when I first read your comment - especially since the Forestman's Hideout (1988) was my second set and remains one of my favorites, as does the Galactic Mediator (1992), but then again there is so much else out there! I'd say the Modular Buildings series is one of the best LEGO has ever made... but honestly, there are plenty of very cool sets out there right now, and if you like minifigures, there's no time like the present!

P.S. - Welcome to EB!

Edited May 22, 2014 by nstickney

[PJ Gomez]

@emilstorm, ugh! I'm so sorry about your basement flood. That is horrible in so many ways

@nstickney. I think part of my love for the 80s is just my memories of building and building. I had a pretty significant layout in my basement. I do agree about the Modular Buildings. I'm currently short MS and the PR. I actually got CC & a 2nd GG at an estate sale last weekend (no boxes, but pristine instructions included!). I felt guilty about the price I paid, but then thought, if you had an estate sale place manage your sale and they didn't identify the value, not my problem.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

[Milan]

A bit late, but Welcome!

[Only Sinner]

Good to have you here. Just can't beat the nostalgia of a real vintage collection! All my old collection is still stored away as there is no room for it.

[Kadzik]

Welcome !