I remember that i started playing pinball when i was a child and once a year, kind of amusement park came to our small town. (with carousels, bumper cars and a small arcade as well in a truck.)
The first machine i can remember was a "Derby Day" from Williams.
While going to higher school in a city a few kilometres our town, we did play "Gorgar" or "Xenon".
I also won a youth tournament when i was 15 on a "Haunted House".
When i had my own house, i did have some space in the basement, so i bought a "Haunted House" just to remember.
This was the point when the whole thing started. I found some friends with the same addiction via the internet.
A lot of machines did come and go. Money, space and my wife (and not necessarily in this order :-) ) was and is the limit.
Due to my profession as a forwarder, i do travel a lot all over the world and i found a lot of new friends which share this hobby with me.