"Butts".....
Brian, it wasn't that long ago that I found myself in the same situation you now find yourself in. I found that if you ask 100 people for advice on what to do, you'll get 100 different answers. "Butt"...
...Here's what I would do...
Go for the hangar-home combo. This will undoubtably afford you more time with the family. I can tell you that the best part of my job is not the flying (although it's still super cool), it's walking through the door at home after being gone and seeing the little one (and momma
) light up like the Fourth of July. You'll soon know what I'm talking about.
As far as the President's latest idea - worry about it, but don't agonize over it. User fees have been on the horizon for us for decades and as long as it can be prevented from being implemented, it will continue to loom on the horizon being pushed by those who desire to see it happen. One of the wonderful freedoms we enjoy in this great nation is the ability to voice our opposition to something we feel is detrimental. Write your Congressmen and Senators. Write to AOPA, NBAA, EAA and all the other groups that help to promote what puts food on our plate and a roof over our heads. We all have a voice - we cannot be afraid to use it.
A home is an asset. I wouldn't waste too much energy on what the value of the home will be if aviation tanks. And think, just how likely is it that the ENTIRE aviation world ceases to exist? The age in which we live relies too heavily on it. It would be like a world with out cars. Yes, airports do dissapear - case in point, the old Panama CIty Beach airport. It's being turned into a residential development. But, there will always been a need for people to live in some type of shelter. Who's to say that if the aviation world goes completely away that the airpark doesnt become just another regular neigboorhood? All I'm saying is a home is a home is a home. And besides, it would be the coolest man cave around!
One other thing I'll direct your attention to is to understand what your budget is going to look like once "Wallis One" arrives at the gate. After our little munchkin arrived, Christin went back to substituting at the schools to help cover the expenses, but we soon realized that she had to substitute a minimum of 3 days per week just to pay for the child care! Not exactly what we had in mind! Diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, clothes (good god, the clothes. How something with so little fabric can cost so much is beyond the computing power of this cpu...) all cost more than I had anticipated. We made it work though, and you will too. Its amazing the motivation power of those little eyes looking up at you at bed time.
We're all familiar with the old saying the opinions are like butts - everyone has one. This "butt" says that if the home/hangar is workable in the budget, then go for it and don't think twice. Can you think of a better place to raise a little one? I can't!
I'm off to give alittle attention to a little butt that smells...fragrant....
daniel
