I know! But try selling that to my husband. The numbers need to
work at least mythically before we sign on the dotted line for a hobby
of mine.

This is the way we started ten years ago, only the other way around -- I was
a pilot first. My wife, Mary, got her ticket five years later -- and we've
spent the last five years sharing flight-time equally, and flying with our
kids all over the country!

The main thing is to get your husband interested enough to get HIS pilot's
certificate. Then you've got it made in the shade! :-)

Going for me is the fact that we signed on a similar dotted
line for his hobby a few years ago: a very painful check for a golf
club membership. Now, if there's a hobby expense that makes less
sense financially than airplane ownership, it must be golf club
membership. (Conduct business out there?... Oh, um, uh-huh. )

Hee hee! Mary and I used to golf, before I got my ticket. Now, when asked
to describe flying to a total stranger, our usual response is "It ain't
golf..."

That's the trouble with flying -- once you've tasted it, EVERYTHING else is
boring. The last time I golfed, all I could do was watch the planes flying
over, wishing I was up THERE spending my money, rather than down here on the
turf, chasing that stupid white ball.... ;-)

That was over 8 years ago, and I don't miss it at all.

That said, I wouldn't trade it for the world. The knowledge that I can
go
from Iowa to Florida in 6.5 hours -- at a moment's notice -- provides a
great deal of "value" to me -- especially in winter. :-)

Jay, that's the lure indeed. Thanks so much for your post!

Once you've been somewhere a great distance from home, you realize how
powerful and wonderful your airplane can be. We have flown to the Grand
Canyon, Albuquerque, Carlsbad, Flori-duh, Ohio, Michigan -- and all points
in between -- for the last ten years. (All VFR, by the way.) There is
just no greater feeling than flying 1200 miles in a day, and arriving,
feeling refreshed. Try THAT in your car.

More importantly, because of the close-knit aviation community, no matter
where you go, you're right "at home." It doesn't matter where you fly --
airports are friendly, cool places!

Good luck with your search -- and with convincing your husband!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"