when you're disapointed that the problem with your computer isn't your hard-drive and you won't be getting some more wedge mags from it. . . .

when the TV makes all sorts of wierd colors and you can't figure out why until you remember that the fridge is on the other side of the wall. . .

when you pass the 'lego' store in the local mall and start thinking about making a mill and genny out of the parts on display.

when you get a steel plate for the top of the work bench so you can make workholding fixtures out of stacked neos.

when there's a roll of magnet wire serving as a book-end.

and the capper for me:

When you look around yourself as you type and see two solar panels you still have to mount, some linear slides, a couple spools of wire and a mini-milling machine, Every note on your fridge and door is held on with neodymium magnets.  Oh and by the way, they make great 'no mar' mounts for picture frames on drywall if you can find a suitably located drywall nail or screw under the plaster to stick it to.  Also, if you already new the preceding.

I'm not here yet I don't think, but when you have more in horsepower in electric motors than in internal combustion engines.  --and you own three cars.

When a gust of wind takes a 'temporary' mount down on your roof and smashes your car window, -- and your more concerned about the turbine.  (this is hypothetical of course)

When your idea of a great vacation is driving to Colorado to look at Turbines at the OtherPower 'Research and Developement' facility located in the Rockies.

When your girlfriend/wife/significant other thinks you are nuts because of RE and none of the above have come true yet.  (warning sign)

When its 2AM on a Sunday Morning, you've just gotten home and you are responding to this post, or if you have Area 52 on your property.

Have Fun, Rich Hagen

When you have to step over parts from printers and microwaves to get into the room.

When you realize that all your lights are cfls.

When you have multiple drawers dedicated to the storage of electronic parts from things you've scrapped over the years.

When you have a tub of dried coffee grinds for burning.

When you have a 5000 watt inverter sitting next to you that you bought because it was a "good buy", when a 500 watt inverter is all you truely needed at the time.

When you put all your electronics on strips that you turn off at night.

When you have spools of used magnet wire laying around for the projects that you know  you will do wrong the first time.

When you're shopping and you find stuff that would work great for an RE application, but wasnt intended for that use.

When you spend an hour taking something apart for a switch and a LED that would have cost you $1.

When you see a gallon jug of mash every time you open the fridge because you havent found a free heater for a distiller yet.

When you spend that much time thinking of stuff to write on fieldlines.com at 1:32AM.

You have 55 hard drive magnets which one day will be useful

When you spend three hours taking apart 2 ink jets, 1 lazzer and a dot matrix just for the stepper motors that then go into a latge box allong with 100's of other small motors just incase u find a way to make power from them

when you stop to pick up old dumped microwaves of the side of the road just for the magnets

When you relise that you have two modles of wind turbines sitting on you computer desk that you didnt know where there

When you (like Chris) take apart video players just for some free LED's and a small motor

When you find your self recycling about 10 old computers a month for the hard drive magnets and the motos out of the CD drives

when every bearing you pick up is keeped for use on 'my next turbine'

when you find your self at the age of 17 telling 5000+ people across the world on a website found by chanse all your strange collection habits.  This post is making me lol

The cat still sports blue glass shards in its fur sometimes from the eBay solar cells you sorted a year ago.

You keep hard drive mags on string in car ashtray to fish in dumpsters too nasty to dive in.

You know when your obsessed when:
You go on a sea crossing with a beautiful view... and spend your time hanging over the side trying to photograph the harbour lights with solar panels.

You get caught in a huge traffic jam on the motorway but are happy to be stuck next to a light-up display board, just so you can get a good look at the mini wind and solar panel system that runs it's batteries.

That and the one about being glad to be stuck in traffic just so you can see how the light up sign works are the best.

......
"When you have trash day marked on your calendar and you and your kid have the neighborhood split up into sections for locating reuseable appliances!"

"You needed a bigger wagon to put appliances in from trash night!!"

When having a grid power outage, all the neighbours lay out extension cords that end in your house; with you being the central spider in the web. Do this once, and they'll never again file a complaint on those 'ridiculous, bird-killing' windmills :-)