But the PM bug had bitten, and I started to pay attention to the Silver and Gold Forum. Finally one day, armed with $50, I went looking for someone to sell me silver. TxBullion showed up, and offered me an ASE, a 90% half, and a 1-gram A&M bar. I took that deal and started stacking, and I've added in fits and spurts, always in small amounts, ever since.
One year into my silver adventure, I'm enjoying the ride. I'm not a SHTF kinda guy. I still invest in stocks and bonds. But I also have a place in my portfolio for silver and gold. I really enjoy the diversity of silver, though I tend to inhabit a fairly narrow region. After exclusively collecting ASEs for a while, I've broadened my horizons somewhat, but still keep to government issue .999, with a HEAVY tilt towards ASEs. I don't like generics. Personal preference, there's nothing wrong with them.
I really didn't pay attention to the size of my stack once I hit about 15 ounces, I just kept chucking them in with the rest, occasionally removing a few for trades, but never counting. About the time I figured I must have close to 60 or so ounces, I decided to count, and my jaw hit the floor. I had severely underestimated the power of small amounts adding up.
So my advice to anyone who's just getting started - or even just lurking - get started! Find something that interests you - .35, .40. .90, .925, .999; coins, rounds, bars, ingots, jewelry, silverware - find a specialty, or get one of everything. But buy something. Buy it regularly. People are going to freak out and talk about $50/oz silver every time the market goes up a dollar. Just the same, people are going to freak out and talk about $15 silver every time silver goes down a dollar. Now, I've only been at this a year, but so far, they've never been right, so I tune out the noise, and buy on a regular basis. I don't try to call peaks, I don't try to call valleys, I don't know and anyone who claims to needs medication. So just buy. Buy on a regular basis, and a fixed amount. If it's $50 a week, so what? That adds up! in 5 years, you'd have 261 ounces. Sometimes its easy to get overwhelmed by people conducting multi-thousand dollar deals. Just stay steady, I know who I am, I know how I stack, and I'll continue to nibble around the edges, but in the end, eat well.
So I thank you for one year. TxBullion, I thank you for getting me started, I still have the ASE! I've learned so much in one year, and I know there's still so much more to learn. I plan to be around for the long haul!
Nice.... sounds familiar.
Throwing Silver at them could make a difference If its cast an loaded 
