cr0sh - That is some awesome information about online component shopping - thanks!!! I'll spend some time looking around on there after work tonight and begin putting a list of stuff together.
"Here" is Flagstaff, AZ. So, all of the websites you mentioned should work great for me. There are slim pickings as far as electronic component shopping around this small town, so as I mentioned before, I think I'm going to try the online route. I might have to check out the Super Surprise Box... sounds like a lot of fun and sounds like a great way to learn about stuff I don't know much about yet.
I hadn't thought about an storage/organization system, but will start thinking about it now. That is a good tip - thanks.
The good news is that I do already have a nice digital multimeter, so I'm covered there.