I have been roleplaying for around 30 years now.  Red Box DnD, colouring in dice with a crayon and affordable figures ruled my world.  As time went by gaming became more about stories and friendship than about dice or magic items.  Sitting around a table enjoying a game for exactly that - a creative gaming experience.
I now am doing much the same things.  Gaming with friends when I can, or writing and working on something fantastic when I can't.