I've always loved sign language since I was a child. I had books that taught me the alphabet. Then when I was in high school my SIL and I took a college sign language course. Only I had to drop out of it because the mid-term was while I would be away at cheerleading camp and the teacher would NOT work with me on it.
Then I had a visitor over 5 years ago that was deaf so I picked up on some signs while she was here. I would love to take classes on it again.
I think you can teach yourself the basics. However, it is best to be around people that use it regularly so you can absorb it from them. Like someone said, look online, there might be some kind of meeting group or something you could join.