Sparkchaser I started with a 1000 also. I also worked in a print lab for a while in 1963.
My first 35 was a Pentax K1000 but I found trying to get lens's for it was troublesome, I sold it and bought a used Canon T-50 which had a much greater range of lens's, I then added a T-70 which was about as close to a meter built in camera as there was at the time.
Never worked in a lab but did work weekends at a photography store by the name of Click Camera off Davie Blvd in Ft Lauderdale.
Never used color much as I could develop B&W myself and since a lot of my work involved nudes I could avoid using labs and the problems that came from that.
Around 87 or so I purchased a warehouse which I sub divided into a studio and a lab both of which i used as well as rented out to other local photographers.
Then came digital, I liked the idea but Canon digital cameras did not mount FD lens's, so I held back for awhile until I discovered a FD to EOS lens adapter.
So I purchased a 10D and quickly realized not only the savings of no film but no more need for a darkroom.
From there it has been all digital, until I discovered video, but that is a totally different story and another rather at the time expensive investment in equipment beginning with two JVC GY-HD200U HDV camcorders which I financed with a loan from a 401k and in about 24 months not only paid back the loan but put quite a good amount of money into my checking account.
It involved politics which I cannot discuss here, it was a rough at times but over all a great part of my life.
