I had four phases where I played regularly, most lasting about four months.
1. High school. I was a Junior when Unlimited came out. My friend's brother in law owned a gaming store. We didn't get a discount or anything, but we were able to get the cards right when they were released. I wish wish wish I had kept those cards. At one point I had the Mox Pearl, Mox Ruby, and a Mox Emerald. One moment please, I need to go kick myself again.
2. My second year of college I moved into a house where two of the roommates played. This was during the Urza Saga. We stayed up past two every night that summer, then they moved. Again, I wish I had kept track of those cards. Pemmin's Aura is still one of my favorite cards of all time.
3. The summer before my last year of college(Not to be confused with my fourth year.
) My brother moved into the house I was living in and got me playing again. I was working in the dorms and had a lot of free time.
4. The four months before I married my wife. She was in Washington, D.C. doing an internship with the Federal Judicial Center and I was stuck in Provo, Utah without my fiance. Two of my roommates had played in the past and I convinced them to play with me to make the pass.
In short, it seems that when I play, I really play, but those periods are few and far between.