SNS3Guppy, nice reading your post, and so true.
personally I plan to fly 30 hours/year, resulting in about 25 hours in real because of weather and maintenance. I'm renting the usual Cessna's and Pipers in a club.
However, most of these hours are done between March-September when I make trips abroad. So I always start the flying season with 1 hour instruction. I always combine these check rides wide a new aircraft type each two year, to keep the fun in it.
I also fly a few hours as passenger each year, on which I also navigate or do radio work. This also keeps you sharp for half the price.