[kbalch]

Thanks to all for the warm welcome and generous advice.

I'd pretty much concluded on my own that making a living at this was pure fantasy, hence the 'pipe dream' subject line. Alas. :-)

For the moment, I'll try to contain my enthusiasm and just see where the course takes me. I couldn't agree more about controlling one's own destiny. I aim to have as much fun & competition as my checkbook will stand. If I can find a way to augment that somehow, so much the better.

While it's obviously better to start earlier, I find it hard to believe that one's professional options are closed at 'only' 42 years of age. Wow. I'm still young!! :-)

Ken