When I was a kid, I eschewed baseball cards in favor of comic books. I saw ads in the comics for lofty, magical places which could sell you any comic you wanted. Missing issues would never be a problem again.

Mile High Comics, Midtown Comics, San Diego Comic-Con. Places you could reach if you were fortunate enough to live in New York City or Southern California. Out of reach for a kid in Podunk, Texas.

Now I live in Los Angeles and have gone to San Diego Comic-Con nearly every consecutive year since 2007. I’ve set foot in Mile High Comics imposing booth and pawed through their back issues. I have been to Midtown Comics in Manhattan and bought the latest Sandman series.

One might say “I’m living the dream.” And they’d be right.