GaRCfield,
Pattern Flying sounds like a blast! I can only imagine what a rush you get. I guess it could be the opposite of a rush too, if you enter a ZEN like state of mind. I get that when I play Xbox highspeed racing games.
I see you live in VT. I went to college in Montpelier. There are alot of mountains, dose that limit the number of flying sites there? I guess it flatens out a bit the closer to Burlington you get.
Have you ever been to (I think its called) the Sugar Bush Glider ranch? I believe it is right around the corner from the town of Warren and Warren Falls. I went out there once and watched the gliders sail along the ridge lines. One of the pilots I talked to said, "...On good days, we can sail about 30 miles down the ridge and back" CRAZINESS! They also have a pretty neat Old WWII era Russian Yak. They converted it from a tail Dragger. It was pretty cool.

Oh boy! Forgive me for rambling on.

Congrats to your first year!

Noah