I actually got my license last fall as part of my bucket list items, from back in my old Boy Scout days. I remember being so interested, and people in it seemed interesting back then. Saw the National jamboree station in the 80’s. Tried to get involved, and hook up with the local club. Bunch of old codgers (sorry, no other way to describe it) who did not have ANY interest to helping out a newbie, though I actively tried to find someone to help. Just was asking for a few hours of help talking through things, especially being in a hoa community it’s impossible to do anything outside was trying to figure out what to buy since my fb recommended baofeng only seemed to be a useful paperweight.. I had one guy try to hit me up to take him to a doctor appointment though

I actually went to ham fest down here this spring and mentioned my struggle to the AARL desk that was there, and I could tell they were just as frustrated trying figure out how to get new people in the hobby. I wish them the best, I don’t know how they can make this open minded.

Gave up and moved on myself.

Contrasting that with pinball, I’m fascinated about how open the community is to younger people (and I’m no spring chicken) even dealing with machines older than myself!