Addicted...or just REALLY passionate?

VWGhiaBob

VWGhiaBob

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VWGhiaBob
OK, this is getting ridiculous. :rolleyes:

I have a great career, excellent health, and a great family. :yesnod:

40 years ago I gave up flying, only to return 5 months ago. Now, I'm being consumed by flying. If I could, I'd go every day. I'm reading every page of my Cirrus POH and avionics manuals. I'm taking every safety seminar I can. And every free moment is devoted to flying in some way, shape or form. I even rehearse ATC communications in the car to work...and memorize stuff using recorded quizzes in my own voice...and listen to ATClive.net.

There's no logical reason for this. After all, my life's better than I ever dreamed it could be. But I'm driven by a passion that's hard to explain and have been given a mission...and I don't even know where it's taking me.

Am I alone? Or am I nuts? :wink2:

Should I give up my career and pursue my passion? Or is this just all outta control?

Anyone else been through this?
 
Who knows? Give it a year for the new to wear off and you'll have a better idea.

In the meantime you're doing it right by getting totally immersed and learning everything you can. Good luck, glad you're having fun.


VWGhiaBob said:
OK, this is getting ridiculous. :rolleyes:

I have a great career, excellent health, and a great family. :yesnod:

40 years ago I gave up flying, only to return 5 months ago. Now, I'm being consumed by flying. If I could, I'd go every day. I'm reading every page of my Cirrus POH and avionics manuals. I'm taking every safety seminar I can. And every free moment is devoted to flying in some way, shape or form. I even rehearse ATC communications in the car to work...and memorize stuff using recorded quizzes in my own voice...and listen to ATClive.net.

There's no logical reason for this. After all, my life's better than I ever dreamed it could be. But I'm driven by a passion that's hard to explain and have been given a mission...and I don't even know where it's taking me.

Am I alone? Or am I nuts? :wink2:

Should I give up my career and pursue my passion? Or is this just all outta control?

Anyone else been through this?
Click to expand...
 
Fly all you can now. Retire from your current job, then pursue aviation full-time. But if you happen to be indepently wealthy, then I say go for it.
 
OCD isn't a problem when you recognize it in yourself. You're on the cusp of an outsider who will soon be an insider. You just have a bit more oomph than most. When managed, OCD is a pretty good motivator.
 
Sure, you're getting immersed in it.

I've had this happen many times. Every time I do a show it happens. Drives all my coworkers nuts when I'm whistling show tunes all day. It happens routinely with interesting engineering projects.

If it's possible to satisfy this itch on an amateur level, that may be better for the pocketbook. But if your day job isn't giving you that experience, maybe that might be telling you something. I'd suggest giving it some time first; career changes are a really big change, and you're still a student pilot.
 
Out of control? You're not there yet.

In 2001, I started flying ultralights. One day, I stopped in the local airport fbo and got talked into flight lessons by a young CFI who taught there. I bought my Comanche as a 10 hour student pilot and finished in that plane.

Flash forward 12 years...

I sold my boat and my small horse ranch is up for sale - including the horses. I live on my small private airport which I have been setting up for entertaining and public events. I own, by last count, five aircraft of various types and have a project plane stuck away that I'll get back on one of these days. About the only thing I do now that isn't aviation related is ride my motorcycle.

THAT is the definition of obsession. You have a way to go.
 
Sounds like me about 5 months into getting back to flying after being away 10 years. It doesn't exactly go away, but it does change. I don't spend so many hours on LiveATC.net anymore. I wouldn't say that's obsession.
 
Thanks for the answers! I'm going to keep plugging away until I settle in. Then we'll see what happens.

But still....

Anyone out there want to hire a UCLA MBA in an aviation position? Willing to take a big pay cut! Great leadership, technical and business skills!!!

Oops, there I go again.
 
waltm said:
Out of control? You're not there yet.

In 2001, I started flying ultralights. One day, I stopped in the local airport fbo and got talked into flight lessons by a young CFI who taught there. I bought my Comanche as a 10 hour student pilot and finished in that plane.

Flash forward 12 years...

I sold my boat and my small horse ranch is up for sale - including the horses. I live on my small private airport which I have been setting up for entertaining and public events. I own, by last count, five aircraft of various types and have a project plane stuck away that I'll get back on one of these days. About the only thing I do now that isn't aviation related is ride my motorcycle.

THAT is the definition of obsession. You have a way to go.
Click to expand...

I am guessing the 12 step program won't work on you then ??:dunno::lol:;)
 
His recovery was progressing pretty well a few weeks ago, but that was when all of his airplanes were in the shop at the same time. :D
N801BH said:
I am guessing the 12 step program won't work on you then ??:dunno::lol:;)
Click to expand...
 
Do what you enjoy for work and you will never work another day.
or
Turn your hobby into a job and your hobby will become work.
I've tried a couple of times, for me it was always the later. Your experience may be different. You need to be careful about what you wish for. I'd rather want another flight that I can't have immediately, then loathe going for another flight that I have to do. BTDT.
 
Because it comes with the territory of being a professional buyer's rep I see many ownership and activity situations from both the beginning and the end. And because I've seen the pattern repeated so many times in the past, I work very hard to help new buyers understand how many (and I think most but don't have proof to support the opinion) deals turn out.

Anyway, if you're a betting man, give odds that the following will occur:

Owner or owners are all fired up at first. The pre-purchase survey that I ask them to complete regarding intended use (destinations and frequency of trips) will verify the need/want aspects of the proposed purchase with substantial margins. If a co-ownership deal is envisioned, the owners are are more concerned about their access to the plane when they want it than having it sit for months at a time with nobody flying it. Getting them to execute a sound joint operating agreement is like pulling teeth.

When the plane arrives, everybody wants to fly it. The activity during the first few months is incredibly strong. Shortly thereafter, the toll of elevated credit card bills coupled with the owners having completed all their "pet" trips and finding the frequency is far less than they projected causes the plane to be flown less and less until a more normal usage pattern becomes apparent.

In many cases the reality sets in and one or all of the owners comes to grip with the fact that they will never fly enough to justify the plane and that they must either sell their piece or the entire airplane or admit more owners, or whatever it takes to get out of the trap.

I've lost track of many of the old transactions, but since 2007 only one of ~50 transactions in which I've been involved have the owners flown significantly more than they estimated. They solved the problem by having one co-owner purchase all of the KA-350 and the other guy buying a jet.
 
VWGhiaBob said:
OK, this is getting ridiculous. :rolleyes:

I have a great career, excellent health, and a great family. :yesnod:

40 years ago I gave up flying, only to return 5 months ago. Now, I'm being consumed by flying. If I could, I'd go every day. I'm reading every page of my Cirrus POH and avionics manuals. I'm taking every safety seminar I can. And every free moment is devoted to flying in some way, shape or form. I even rehearse ATC communications in the car to work...and memorize stuff using recorded quizzes in my own voice...and listen to ATClive.net.

There's no logical reason for this. After all, my life's better than I ever dreamed it could be. But I'm driven by a passion that's hard to explain and have been given a mission...and I don't even know where it's taking me.

Am I alone? Or am I nuts? :wink2:

Should I give up my career and pursue my passion? Or is this just all outta control?

Anyone else been through this?
Click to expand...


My situation, exactly. A 40 year layoff then back in, both feet, deep end of the pool.
For the last 18 months, I fly 2 or more times a week, in 2 or more different types, and I can't get enough. Yesterday I did 3 different types in 4 hours, and I was bummed because there was nothing else in the schedule or on the ramp. :sad:

I'm happier than I have been in decades.

Glenn
 
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If you can keep on doing what you are doing (fine career, life, flying like a madman), do it.

If you can retire and continue to fly, even better.

I've considered changing careers and getting into aviation but I always kept it separate. And in the end, I prefer it that way.

I just kept working while I relocated to an airpark, flew the heck out of a Maule, and built my dream plane. When everything was in place, I retired to fly and maintain the dream while coming up with new missions. Has worked for me.

Obsessions are FUN!
 
Keep it recreational. There's no money and QOL for the majority in aviation.
 
Doesn't have to be just a hobby. Using a plane to be where you need to be can be an incredibly effective tool.

hindsight2020 said:
Keep it recreational. There's no money and QOL for the majority in aviation.
Click to expand...
 
VWGhiaBob said:
OK, this is getting ridiculous. :rolleyes:

I have a great career, excellent health, and a great family. :yesnod:

40 years ago I gave up flying, only to return 5 months ago. Now, I'm being consumed by flying. If I could, I'd go every day. I'm reading every page of my Cirrus POH and avionics manuals. I'm taking every safety seminar I can. And every free moment is devoted to flying in some way, shape or form. I even rehearse ATC communications in the car to work...and memorize stuff using recorded quizzes in my own voice...and listen to ATClive.net.

There's no logical reason for this. After all, my life's better than I ever dreamed it could be. But I'm driven by a passion that's hard to explain and have been given a mission...and I don't even know where it's taking me.

Am I alone? Or am I nuts? :wink2:

Should I give up my career and pursue my passion? Or is this just all outta control?

Anyone else been through this?
Click to expand...

Not alone or nuts at all!!!

I was on the ground for nearly 10 years getting through college and work and just started flying again a month ago so I know exactly what you're going through!!! The entire time I wasn't flying I thought about it, stopped by the local airport, and got way too excited to fly commercial . I think most of us share a similar passion for flight and could most definitely go everyday if money, work, and life would allow us.

Not really sure about giving up the career though especially if you can get up frequently enough doing what you're doing. I went back to school and have one year left (law school) and now that I'm flying again I've been thinking along the same lines and am hoping I will be able to find a way to tie the two together at some point in the future.
 
A very successful and prosperous Dallas-based attorney who posts here frequently has successfully merged his love of aviation with his masterful skills at the courthouse.

PJS313 said:
Not alone or nuts at all!!!

I was on the ground for nearly 10 years getting through college and work and just started flying again a month ago so I know exactly what you're going through!!! The entire time I wasn't flying I thought about it, stopped by the local airport, and got way too excited to fly commercial . I think most of us share a similar passion for flight and could most definitely go everyday if money, work, and life would allow us.

Not really sure about giving up the career though especially if you can get up frequently enough doing what you're doing. I went back to school and have one year left (law school) and now that I'm flying again I've been thinking along the same lines and am hoping I will be able to find a way to tie the two together at some point in the future.
Click to expand...
 
VWGhiaBob said:
OK, this is getting ridiculous. :rolleyes:

I have a great career, excellent health, and a great family. :yesnod:

40 years ago I gave up flying, only to return 5 months ago. Now, I'm being consumed by flying. If I could, I'd go every day. I'm reading every page of my Cirrus POH and avionics manuals. I'm taking every safety seminar I can. And every free moment is devoted to flying in some way, shape or form. I even rehearse ATC communications in the car to work...and memorize stuff using recorded quizzes in my own voice...and listen to ATClive.net.

There's no logical reason for this. After all, my life's better than I ever dreamed it could be. But I'm driven by a passion that's hard to explain and have been given a mission...and I don't even know where it's taking me.

Am I alone? Or am I nuts? :wink2:
Click to expand...

Welcome. You're one of us now. :)

And no, you're not nuts. Everyone else who doesn't feel this way is nuts! :yes:
 
wabower said:
A very successful and prosperous Dallas-based attorney who posts here frequently has successfully merged his love of aviation with his masterful skills at the courthouse.
Click to expand...

Oh that guy. Nobody likes him.:D
 
I love this thread. I'm in the club. Worked in aviation off and on for a long time. Now working on my Commercial at 57. I indulge with cautious money, and fantasize about owning at least two. I gave up being a homeowner, because I don't really like present city and hate maintaining a house. And I discovered I fly more often than most co-workers that already own.

I'm not going to change anything.
 
Took a vacation for 23 years ,then got an invite to sun n fun and the fun began.started with a 172 then an arrow then to a twin travel air and now that I am retired I own a liberty xl2 all tricked out. Fly at least twice a week and take several long cross country's a year also move the aircraft from mass to Florida for change of seasons.trying to see how many airports in the country I can land at. Jump in the waters fine.Good Luck
 
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