caveats for a neophyte

Howdy,
I am an old (septogenarian) electronics type turned woodworker who thinks
he would like to combine cnc and water cutting with his wood hobby,
knowing little about cnc and water. Thus, help in the form of
recommendations, advice, or caveats is being sought pointing to
equipment, web sites and or individuals with opinions. The cnc
envisioned would handle 12" x 24", 2 D, be home built, be low cost
(relatively) and reliable.
Thanks,
Dumswede.1@...