Thanks for the warm welcome both from the US and from around the world
Since I wrote the first post, I have ordered the most important things to get me started on my own, a Roland GX-24 and a (way overspecced) PC (think Intel i7 950i processor (3.06ghz), 6gb ram, SSD flash harddrive for OS, amd a lot of other goodies). Flexistarter 8.6, Adobe CS5 (Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign only, no master collection). with a Samsung 27" monitor.
I also ordered this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380199947072&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT, hopefully it will be up to the standard I'm used to from my previous workplaces, the CC Car Special collection.
As one of you mentioned, going to school to learn graphic design properly is doing things right. Not so much signmaking in school, but with hard tasks and strict teachers and a lot of work done by hand, not computer laid a strong foundation for thoroughness and precision. The first 6 months of school we did not even touch a computer, all was done by hand - scetching with pencil and Pantone (letraset Trio) markers, making stencils, cutting with X-acto knives (well, hospital scalpels actually) etc. Using this knowledge every way when working with graphics, both on cars and signs
I've already learned about many great sign making supplies from these pages, many not available over here in Norway, but luckily many suppliers will ship internationally if asked nicely