Well im 10 years in doing the same as you, except in the UK. Im the same age, with pretty much the same circumstances. All i can say is that there have been times when i have thought i must be mad, but it really would be awful to sit back in years to come and say " I wish i had gone for that flying thing". In our profession you see things that make you think life is very short indeed, and every oppurtunity has to be seized. Do it....or you will never know!!