Then allow me to ask you this:I'm 46, and plan to begin training in January '08 after a lifetime of dreaming about being a professional pilot
I would say it is a bit late to start training as a proffesional pilot.
You may be the execption, but other pilots I have seen starting their training in their 40s have been pretty lousy. If flying was your passion you would have started in your 20s.
Again, you may be the exeption and you may shine, but learning to fly is like learning a new language: Better start early so it gets in your blood.
If not, you will have an uphill battle.