I think it's helpful to hear about people who dropped out. If you only talk to successful pilots that's an obvious case of survivorship bias (in some cases literally).
For me I gave up on my lessons due to a combination of being a bit worried about my absent-mindedness and finding it not as much fun as I'd hoped, given the expense. (Not to mention meeting my girlfriend.)
I agree that like most things, it can be done if you put your mind to it. But everyone has to decide for themselves what their priorities are. I found that I'd rather be in the passenger's seat. Being the one with all the responsibility (particularly in a complicated airspace like the bay area) feels too much like work to me, and I think it would still feel like work with more experience.
I recommend taking a beginning lesson to anyone, though. You can do more than you'd expect.
I've got 500 hours and fly in the Bay all the time. It stopped being "work" a long time ago, and now it doesn't concern me at all to fly wherever I want to go. I wouldn't think twice about flipping on the mic and telling ATC what I want or need.
The money I will never get back and I'm still not sure it's worth it. But I sure have enjoyed the ride!
For me I gave up on my lessons due to a combination of being a bit worried about my absent-mindedness and finding it not as much fun as I'd hoped, given the expense. (Not to mention meeting my girlfriend.)
I agree that like most things, it can be done if you put your mind to it. But everyone has to decide for themselves what their priorities are. I found that I'd rather be in the passenger's seat. Being the one with all the responsibility (particularly in a complicated airspace like the bay area) feels too much like work to me, and I think it would still feel like work with more experience.
I recommend taking a beginning lesson to anyone, though. You can do more than you'd expect.