HelisRule--

I know what you mean-- I started learning in the garage on a Blade CP Pro (one of many mistakes in my life, but if you can fly a BCPP, you can fly anything!), and it really stunted my development for a while.

You don't need to get a stable hover. You need to get control. So if you're having trouble keeping it in one place, then try oscillating-- swing it back and forth in about three feet, and instead of concentrating on keeping it at one point, concentrate on other things: a little left cyclic makes it go this far, then a little right brings it back, so try to just go back and forth between two points close together. Make up your own games-- at this point in time what you learn is as much what you want to do as what the regimen says.

You can still do all of the above in the basement, but it will be harder and at the end you'll be a better flier than if you had all the room in the world, but you'll spend a bucketload of money on rotors, so right now, get out of your basement. Don't try anything of the above at first, but once you can hover for a pack get outside. The biggest improvement you'll see right now is when you a) get outside; b) get used to having all that airspace around you; and c) realize that having all that space means that you won't run into the lawnmower if you make the slightest mistake. Get more space around you, in other words, and you'll learn a lot faster.

For the winter months, see www.modelaircraft.org. This is the AMA Web site, and your link to flying clubs around you. I haven't looked for your location, but I guarantee you there is a club nearby that's solved the problem of how to fly in the winter-- they've found a gym, warehouse or something.