Balto,

If you have the time/money/patients, find a club with a good instructor. If you don't have a club/instructor, go with a park flyer, or electric sailplane combo, and go back to the Paragon later. It will cost more to re-buy everything, but you'll still have it, and the Paragon in the future.-Much more economical in the long run. If you have someone who has flown before,- (relative/co-worker/friend,) that has some idea of what's what, get an electric sailplane, and go for it. If you are strictly on your own, GOOD LUCK!! This is how I learned to fly-Cox powered sailplane, by myself, in a 16 acre open field! I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless you have no other choice, (although I DID learn the finer points of the hobby- building, rebuilding, rebuilding again, Heh Heh )
It was a form of Super High Intensity Training I don't wish on anyone, but also a sence of EXTREME accomplishment. (I'm not slowing down 16 years later!)

Jetts