Eddie:

Welcome back.

> I'd like to have a bench
> sooner than in 20 years.

It's possible to build a decent bench in much less than twenty 
years.  I did my first one in only eight years - a 60% savings.

Actually, you can build a very good bench in just a week of 
evenings and a weekend.  But this assumes you are using those 
quick-release style vises.  Classic vises and traditional design take 
a lot longer.  It sounds like your bench needs to be as presentable 
as a piece of furniture, so maybe your approach is right after all.

Good luck either way.

-Bob Key, which, after you've built a few you can do it a lot faster...