proctor, I started gliding in my teens, became an instructor, got a PPL, became a tugpilot, joined the RAF and ended up as an airline captain.
The very best flying is in gliding. My Gliding Club had only a 2000 foot narrow grass strip. The undershoot was a main road with telephone cables on the approach and a nasty wind gradient in a strong north westerly. I was always grateful for starting out as a 'forced landing' pilot. Also I made some friends for life. It taught me that to fly, you have to be part of a community and be socially acceptable to your mates. We laughed a lot in the 1970's and has lots of simple fun. No computers, not much telly, no big brother, no drugs and empty countryside.
Most of all I remember the silence and beauty of the skies and the never ending challenge of sniffing out the next thermal.
Go gliding; its good for the soul.