I've been self taught since 1999, learning HTML and search engine optimization. Over the years I learned different things, like PHP and MySQL, then on to a little ASP, and finally Javascript. You'd think I'd have learned that with the HTML, but no!
All those years between first learning and picking it back up again was raising two children and going to chiropractic school as a single mama. There wasn't any time for anything else.
Now I learn for a volunteer position (where most of my questions come from) and to have a little fun doing things for my own office once I know I have the hang of things.
If I'm asking a question, please know that I've searched and searched and tried many things before resorting to asking - and that probably means either I missed something small OR I don't understand a concept and may need a little hand-holding type of explanation.