catmandu
Well Known Member
Just over eight years ago, I sat down and started reading all the archived posts on this site. I was hooked. Convinced myself in about three days that I needed to build an RV-8 powered by a Subie. Made a list of hard-to-find-used-or-cheap tools and gave it out as Christmas present ideas. Got most of them. Then reality started to set in, and I was reminded of wants versus needs.
Life moved along, things changed, but I always came back here. To get smart. To live vicariously. To donate. I bought into an Arrow partnership, and had about 90% of my GA flying mission satisfied. Started doing some of those "some day" flights, like going to Sun 'n Fun with my Dad and my son this past year. Great times, but still, I yearned.
Well, about a month ago I started looking at a job that was a good two hour drive, one way, down a two lane road. The fit was right, but man, what a commute. Started talking to my wife about it, and "options"
to make quality of life better. One night at dinner, I let my son know about the job and the changes to home life it might bring about. At the end of the conversation, my wife says, "Well, go ahead, tell him the best part!" Until that moment, I was not sure I had a green light to turn the two hour road trip into a twenty minute flight!
Sent SmokyRay and his band of misfits out on a search. A search that was successful! I found a VFR gap in this week's bad weather, flew out to Colorado, found a plane as described, signed papers, got checked out, and brought her home:
I even joined the 200kt club on the way home (okay, 50kt tailwind, but still, grinned and howled!):
She's not what I first wanted, and not 100% what I want right now, but by golly, she's mine! Besides, where would I be without something to tinker with?
Life moved along, things changed, but I always came back here. To get smart. To live vicariously. To donate. I bought into an Arrow partnership, and had about 90% of my GA flying mission satisfied. Started doing some of those "some day" flights, like going to Sun 'n Fun with my Dad and my son this past year. Great times, but still, I yearned.
Well, about a month ago I started looking at a job that was a good two hour drive, one way, down a two lane road. The fit was right, but man, what a commute. Started talking to my wife about it, and "options"
to make quality of life better. One night at dinner, I let my son know about the job and the changes to home life it might bring about. At the end of the conversation, my wife says, "Well, go ahead, tell him the best part!" Until that moment, I was not sure I had a green light to turn the two hour road trip into a twenty minute flight!Sent SmokyRay and his band of misfits out on a search. A search that was successful! I found a VFR gap in this week's bad weather, flew out to Colorado, found a plane as described, signed papers, got checked out, and brought her home:
I even joined the 200kt club on the way home (okay, 50kt tailwind, but still, grinned and howled!):
She's not what I first wanted, and not 100% what I want right now, but by golly, she's mine! Besides, where would I be without something to tinker with?
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