Although I've held an Amateur Radio License since 1995... I have only been active in ham radio since about 2003! I have really enjoyed the 2-meter band... and have found a few friends in the area who don't mind an informal "rag-chew" now & again! I do have a few rigs at my disposal... I have a new ICOM IC-2100H installed on my desk at home, right next to my computer! I also have a motorola commercial grade UHF radio, which allows me access to the 70cm band, along with some commercial frequencies I have acces to. 

I also have a Yaesu FT-2200 mobile.. which I have installed in my '97 Ford F-150. This enables me to stay in contact when I'm on the go! Here, I use an MFJ Dual band Mag-Mount antenna, attached to the truck's roof. It has some gain, and enables me to hear those distant repeaters... whether I decide to transmit or not!

If I am away from my truck... I use an Icom IC-T7H. It's a dual band 2m/440... but I only use the 440 for monitoring emergency channels in my area. (440 apparently isn't as popular as 2m in Eastern Tennessee right now... although there are a Bunch of 440 repeaters here!) It's probably due to the mountainous terrain.

I finally managed to upgrade to the Amateur Extra Class License... thanks to a software package & study book from the W5YI people, and the practice tests here on QRZ! 

I suppose my next progression will be to become a VE myself!