I've been playing off and on my entire life. I played quite a bit with my grandfather as a child, but didn't really begin to understand the fundamentals of chess until a few years ago (such as controlling the center, pins, etc.)
I'd like to one day become a master or GM (who wouldn't?), or to just become "That crazy old man down the street that plays chess REALLY well!"
My favorite opening is the Barcza to KIA, which you'll see me flouting the wonders of on the forums quite often :)