I mention this because - whether or not you're just starting out on your first R2, or are halfway through your World-Dominating Army of Killer Robots that Look Like Trashcans - there are a few things you need to keep in mind during the process. The truth is, a hobby can be the source of spittle-emitting mania and obsession on a scale so grand most people would consider it proof of insanity, so here are a few pointers; truths; "droidisms", to help you keep your mind right.

Droidism #1: R2 Cannot Be Bought; R2 Must Be Earned.

It is going to take a long time to build your droid. A really long time. Longer than you think, by a factor of at least 5. Longer even than the love scene in "Attack of the Clones." "There is No Kit," Neo... welcome to the real world. You're going to have to do your research; you're going to have to build or buy parts - and that takes a long time because parts aren't offered constantly, and it takes awhile for them to be made, and then there's shipping - and on and on... patience is your new best friend. And it doesn't have to suck, either: waiting for parts to show up means you enjoy a experiental hybrid between a Jack-in-the-Box, and Christmas... on any given day, a present can just pop up on your doorstep, and that is always cool.  Most of us have a little corner somewhere dedicated to an ever growing collection of R2 parts; a little "shrine" of sorts. In the beginning, it's usually just a pile of random resin or aluminum parts, but slowly, a dome shows up, some arms, some holoprojectors, and you can see your R2 begin to come to life... Besides, there's PLENTY to do while you're waiting, whether it's learning about painting, electronics, motor controllers, or explaining to your wife why there's sandpaper in the bathtub (more on that later).

Droidism #2: No Droid is an Island.

Currently, our club is some 1700 members strong, but only a handful of us make parts offerings, collect the references, maintain the site, and keep the communication lines between us and Lord Bies open.  What this means is that word travels fast from key members down the chain: your conduct in the group is important, and you are being watched.

Did that sound ominous? Good. Our group works for a few very good reasons: we recognize that we need each other's support and help to be successful, and we reciprocate. We realize that we can all make equally significant contributions to the welfare of the club, and can play as important a role as we choose. So we treat each other with respect and equality, we don't fuel flame wars, and we don't do things that might jeopardize the group's good standing with the Empire, if you know what I mean. Members that try and destabilize our little venture are almost always sent downstairs for disintegration, or fed to the Sarlaac, or dropped into a nest of Gundarks during mating season. It isn't pretty. So just, be cool man. We're all in this together.

Droidism #3: There is No R2-D2.

It's sad but true. Our little guy isn't real...  but mine is damn sure gonna LOOK real, and he's going to do the 2-3-2 in less than a second, and he'll have a real holographic projection system, and rocket boosters so he can fly around, and he can fix my car and put out fires, and if I need him to talk to my computer and straighten out some software conflicts, no problem, and plus he can clean my pool and walk up stairs, and...

Be realistic. That's all I'm saying. Be as ambitious as you want to, go nuts, be the God of Droids, but know that this stuff is hard, and don't set yourself up for obvious failure. That woud suck.  Worse than getting a lightsaber enema. (Don't think about that.)

THINGS YOU TELL YOUR WIFE THAT an R2-D2 is GOOD FOR:

- Providing a challenging yet rewarding experience that will last a lifetime, while teaching you to overcome adversity and celebrate your talents, blah blah blah

- Vacuuming.

- An alternative to your other hobby: Making Hats Out of Placenta.

- A Marital Aid. Show her the great new attachment you'll be installing...

THINGS THAT an R2-D2 is ACTUALLY GOOD FOR:

- Increasing your geek factor by a billion.

- Giving you an outlet for that obsessive-compulsive feather-dusting problem.

- Hidden webcam. ("No, that red light blinks all the time...")

- Nothing. Does everything have to have a purpose? Can't it just be cool? Can't I just like Star Wars without being called names all the time? So what if I'm 35? Yeah I can read Aurabesh, SO WHAT?! You're lucky I didn't add that zapper-thing to him! Where are you going?!

So, to sum up: Having an R2: Good. Asking for an R2 kit: Bad.

Work hard, be patient, and play nice with others. In the end, it will definitely be worth it. This, young grasshopper, is the path to good droid karma.

After all, it's just a hobby...

Happy Building!

P.S. Every time I see a traffic light now, I wish it had a blue light, too...