I've got three guitars and I know how to play three songs - it's taken me 15 years to get this far!
At first, I was sharing a house with a guy who had a few lovely guitars and amps, and I noticed that he did quite well with women as a result (I convinced myself that this was the reason anyway). A month of really hard work and I could play "Tears in Heaven" as well you need to and was more than happy with that.
Over the years I learned to play other songs quite well, but had no understanding (or interest) in the way the instrument actually works.
Over the last couple of years, this has been slowly changing. I've put in quite a bit of work and I am now proud to report that I have acheived the the skill level that's commonly known as "crap".
The one thing I have learned is that spending a lot of money on guitars doesn't help (although they do look lovely when you take them out of their cases). It's practice, baby, and that takes time. I've simply not had enough time until now. I have recently got a new job and the hours are nothing like as long as I have done before. Who knows, this might be the time that I get to progress at last. I'm even thinking of having some lessons - my new office is right opposite a music shop, and they have cards in the window (and a beautiful Dobro!).
Since my early days of trying to impress girls, I have very rarely played in front of anyone. Certainly never in front of anyone sober. I used to think that this would change as my skill level increases, but now I realise that I will never be a performer at any level.
In the last couple of weeks I have learned to play one of my favourite songs, the mighty Run Wild, and I am really pleased with myself. I get an enormous amount of satisfaction from getting it right, and that's the point for me.
What a long post - is anyone still reading? Sorry.