Oh my
 

I am just having a little fun with a buddy. He knows I am sincere.

SkyHigh

You are absolutely right, Tom. Small farmers are getting to be a rare commodity because of the costs required to keep going year in and year out. And one's success or failure depends on factors over which the farmer has no control such as weather, crop prices and consumer fickleness. We own an agricultural farm in the midwest. I know about the trials and tribulations of farming. You almost need to farm over 1000 acres for an enterprise to be worth it. Or you might be lucky and inherit a farm that is continuing and prosperous.

I have been following the different threads and it's obvious the positions all of you have on any given topic. And this being cyberspace, which is devoid of nuance and context, it is so easy to misunderstand or misinterpret or feel slighted. I am not taking sides or making disparaging remarks about anyone; I do not have time to engage in such unproductive behavior.

Having said that, I'd like to offer a different perspective. Many of my clients are in the predicament they are in, not because they are lazy or uneducated or stupid. More often than not, it was luck. Just plain luck. Much like being lucky enough to inherit a farm. Apply this to a budding pilot. Did you have family or friends who could have helped you? Did you find yourself in the right place at the right time? Did you happen to make the "right" choice, albeit unwittingly? When you made the wrong choice, were you lucky enough to spot it and change course? If you had been lucky at some time, you probably have a job that you happen to like also. If you change your mind sometime later, you may be lucky enough to recognize the need for a change and have the wherewithal to make that change. I hope so.

Anyway, enough of this. Need to spend quality time with my family! I do not profess to be an expert here. Just a bit of food for thought.