Let me give you some advice, i've been playing bass for 7+ years; learn the names of the notes on the fretboard, scales and as much theory as you can. it'll help alot. and just have fun with it. Get books, lessions and whatever else you can afford. Good gear is essential if your giging alot, but if your just starting get one of those Squire starter packs and you'll be set for a few years, hell, i still have mine and play out with it sometimes. Having fun with it is the most important thing. If your not haveing fun you wont learn anything. I always have a bass with me. Everytime i'm watching tv i'm just jamming, makeing up stuff, practicing scales and whatever else i do with it. There's some great websites for bass, like
activebass.com,
Talkbass.com, and
Wheat's Bass Book. Wheat's is one of the best online bass website's i've found.
Enjoy the music, and remember this quite "When playing bass, Les is always more"