"Mutts" wrote in message
...

I now its popular to blame cost for the decline. Yes, it is a factor I
know.

Perhaps it is the growth of our overly risk aversioned culture too.

Or the fascination with aviation most of us have had since kids is
failing to connect with younger folks today.

It's the cost and the bureaucracy. My wife and I are college graduate
thirtysomethings making above the national income average and the cost of an
airplane, maintenance, storage, insurance are simply prohibitive.

Bottom line: Can't afford it. Or maybe I can, but with the cost of homes
blowing through the roof we can't afford both, and I discovered that I had
as much fun with my wife and friends out on the Columbia River on my $4,000
boat for $25 in fuel than I had flying, and I don't have to worry about some
bureaucracy crawling up my ass about whether the friends contributed to
fuel, what the "intent" of the boating trip was, etc.

Less GA airports is not a big help either!

Wasn't a factor for me at all. Each time I've hung up the jacket and quit
flying for a couple of years at a time, it was directly related to the cost.

-c