Playing or fixing?

I've always been fascinated by pinball. I've never been a very good player, but I'm always ready to play a game when I see one. I bought my first machine in January 2012 and it's been a fun ride since then. My purchases tend to be neglected machines that need some TLC to play well. There aren't a lot of machines available near me so I tend to either travel for purchases, or take what I can get locally.

I've always been the kind of guy who takes things apart, and that's more fun on pinball than it is on anything. I can never decide if I buy the machines to play them, and fixing them is a perk, or if I buy the machines to fix them, with playing them as the perk. My day job is also working on electronics and electro-mechanical systems, and that knowledge seems to come in handy as well. Getting to know the pinball community has been a real pleasure and I look forward to many years of fun exploring this hobby.