The advantage of buying Star Wars products online is that there is a geek on the other end selling you the item. The disadvantage of buying Star Wars products from a shop is that you get funny looks from the sales assistant for buying a lightsaber when you're over the age of ten.

Oh well. Being a Jedi in a world where you have to act your age is hard, and in the words of the Ramones, "I Don't Want To Grow Up". But that's one of the great things about Star Wars: it helps you feel like a kid, especially if you first saw the movies as a child. We all long for that sense of adventure and through Star Wars we can feel like we're Luke riding a speeder bike through the forests of Endor or Han shooting down TIEs in the Millenium Falcon.

I remember the day I saw The Empire Strikes Back, rushing home and searching through both catalogues in the house for anything associated with Star Wars that I might be able to purchase. And it's still the same when you're a 'grown-up'. No real adult would have the desire to buy toy action figures or own a lightsaber, which illuminates at the touch of a button - except figures now stay in the box, instead of taking part in dangerous rescue missions across the bedroom or wrestling tournaments. Most of the time anyway.

Despite the funny looks and inferiority we feel, we must fight on, and watch the entire saga twice in one day, or pretend our dressing gown makes us look like Obi-Wan, or get that Aurebesh tattoo. One of the greatest compliments I ever received was from a young child while waiting at the cinema to see Revenge of the Sith when he noticed my lightsaber, hung at the hip. Your friends may think you're strange, and you may find it hard getting a date, but George would be proud.

Whenever you're feeling down and considering giving up, just remember there are many others around the world, maybe even in your country, who have equally boring lives, who would rather buy that Jawa figure with vinyl cape than pay the rent. Star Wars is a kind of Neverland, connecting with that child within. And I'd take Star Wars over Peter Pan any day.