Hey Daniel. The hobby does get neglected by us all at times it seems. But few stay away forever. And many never really finish with the layout, it just continually evolves.
I just uncovered, and resumed "evolution #3" on layout #2 "The hills"- A flat run, but elevated once out of the hills. A village supported mining and logging road serving the city in the valley. my home.
Layout#1=high shelf around a bedroom ceiling represents long distance city to city, and coal trains on steep grades for me
#3 is just an 0-27 circle on a 30"x30" table with a green fleece over it, a globe in the middle, and a cartoonish 1950s retro style rocket ship traveling on rails spewing smoke out the rear towards the Marvin the Martian and Bugs Bunny rocket launcher following behind it. (or sans-globe, and instead, a little Christmas tree with a General or Scout circling)
The point is its about fun, and this hobby doesn't really have to be about anything but what you make it to be.
Welcome aboard, enjoy the ride!
