Interesting thread. I've seen this post resurrected off and on for 10 years. After finally reading several posts, I continued and read all of them. I feel strangely moved, but I can't put my finger on "why".
My Dad taught me CL with his old planes from the 50's. When I graduated to RC 15 yrs later, I taught him!
He instilled a love of aviation that burns as strong as ever. I learned to fly, 35 hrs in a Cessna 152. But life got in the way and now I am a frustrated full-scale pilot putting my energy into modeling.
To pay for this addiction, I am the Director of Engineering for a local TV station.