Helo-watt --- Go back to the local club and get to know the folks there, don't let your first contact with a few make your decision as to what the rest are like. Most clubs have a couple people that are hard to get along with and they are the ones you just avoid !! , the rest of the club is probably a good bunch.
The clubs help will be worth any small amount of grief you may get from a couple of people. Spend some time just looking and talking and see what comes of that and take the bad as a GRAIN of salt and go on.
The help you get from a club will be worth it's weight in gold, you just have to work with them a bit. They will help you get the right plane and other things you need and then will help you learn to fly ( properly and safely ) at the least cost. ENJOY !!! RED