What's surprising to me is not that soaring is declining, but that there are still relatively so many of us involved.

When I was 14, my father was already driving an hour each way to/from Richmond, IN every Saturday anyway to fly (Sundays were for church). The 2nd Saturday each month was his instructor duty day so that's when I went with him.. I had transportation, cheap flights (no rental or instruction fee, $2.50/2000' tow), cheap club dues, a share in a 1-26 waiting for solo, an enormous amount of support from my aviation/soaring-addicted father, and the heady-to-a-teenage-boy thrill of piloting an aircraft.

Flying gliders was a no-brainer!

Today I have my own glider, few family commitments, enough cash to fly whenever I want, a shorter drive to Blairstown, NJ, and several guys who have provided tremendous support over the years (thanks, P3 and UH). And STILL there are days when it's just too much work to go flying: because the weather might not be good, or I need to be back that night for a social commitment, or I flew in really late the night before from a business trip, or it's hot and humid and I don't relish rigging my ASW 24, or my car/house are about to fail because of deferred maintenance, or whatever.

Soaring's upsides are almost limitless. But they can be elusive--and accompanied by a lot of frustration. Add to it that soaring--while safe--is doubtless the riskiest thing most of us do and I understand why it isn't more popular.

Yes, it's expensive. But so are a lot of other things that promise quicker, less uncertain rewards; are more family friendly; are less weather-dependent; are more schedulable in advance and/or require less time commitment; and are just less work to pursue.

Chip Bearden