For me, Darin has it right - the wealth of knowledge available here simply cannot be duplicated in a local environment.

It also gets the blood flowing again when things start to become "less stimulating". I know my enthusiasm was lagging just boring holes in the sky with my 40-60 size glow planes, then gas engines got my attention on here. Ah - Rebirth! Now enjoying flying several times a week again instead of just once.

And as part of the larger planes/gas engine interest, I became interested in doing engine conversions - just bought a metal lathe and mini mill, and am really looking forward to working on engine conversions.

That and I will intentionally log on here instead of turning on CNN, etc - don't want to get caught up in it. Been there, done that for a year when deployed over there for operations Desert Shield/Storm/Calm. I get my feed from the newspaper. I've lost a couple of flying buddies for our normal morning flying sessions because they are glued to the TV.

Lynn