u/EnvironmentalOwl5648

I have made many posts now as I am really close to starting to fly, but now I am at a fork in the road.

I have two methods I can choose from
A. Fly once a week and save the surplus to then use to fly more before I take my check ride.
B. Save for 6 ish months and fly 3 hours a week (weather permitting) and subsidize the cost with the money I’ve saved.

A and B both have their upsides. Option A gets me flying sooner and in perfect conditions I would be finished a month or so sooner. Option B would allow me to fly more often meaning learning time could be quicker and could make it a bit less stressful.

I am really having a tough time deciding on which method I should go and I may even end up using a different on for each of my ratings.

I am leaning to the A route as I believe I take to things pretty fast and wouldn’t have to worry too much about skill retention. I also have doubts about The B route and my work schedule as it may fluctuate and not leave me with many dedicated time slots.

Advice is greatly appreciated I’ll probably take a vote at the end of the week and see what I decide. If you have done either or both please share your input on skill retention lol.

Edit: Leaning more towards the B option based on input and because it seems less risky. I would much rather complete my training than not because I didn’t want to have a bit of patience.

I just had my first in person interview since being open with my identity, and I have this nagging feeling that my transness cost me the job.

My interviewer had some questions about my name because my caller Id displayed my dead name (oops), which made him ask a bit about it. I didn’t really want to but I just led with it’s what people call me. I was already nervous for the interview part let alone to tell some random stranger my identity. He asked again why they call me that and I felt like I had no other option really, but to say I am trans and I have a different name. Idk if he was in his right to ask that stuff. I’m from WI and just moved here to CA and he was from MI so I don’t think either of us know the laws protecting workers here.

I don’t think there was any ill intent he was nice and asked if that was why I moved to CA lol. Just a frustrating part of being trans in public.

Edit: for all the questions about the jobs sensor it’s a joke

I am currently saving up a little buffer pool before I start my long journey to get my CPL and I am filled with so much doubt.

I just don’t feel like I’m making enough to actually become a good pilot. With what I make now and adding what I save I am going to be able to fly 5-6 hours a month if I stretch it and even with those minimal hours I won’t finish for 2 and a half years or more.

I know lots of people fly less and are still successful and there are also pilots who fly more who aren’t, but I am worried that I might end up looking back broke with no progress made because I didn’t wait longer or I waited too long and life got in the way.

So I plan to buy myself a nd2 soon as I just moved to NorCal and need a car, but I don’t think I’m going to prioritize a manual… I have been told several times I will regret it but from what I’ve seen in my area it’s an extra 2 grand and for some reason the soft tops are even more expensive? Is it worth it just to have a marginally better time on the rare chance I go in the back roads? I’m also 6’2” with long legs and shorter torso so even with the adjustable steering a heel toe shift would require a part time act as a contortionist. Am I really making a bad” decision?

Edit for those asking I have sat in all the variations and I do fit but my longer legs make it more strenuous for longer trips

So I plan to marry my lovely girlfriend who I have been high school sweethearts with and there’s a slight issue.
I am trans mtf and she has been my number one supporter, but on her side of the family nobody knows at all. This is because her side of the family (about 50-70%) of them at least are openly against trans people. So as it is also my wedding I have zero tolerance on people that are transphobic, homophobic, racist, etc. but also some of these specifically homophobic and transphobic make it so some very important people to her are people I don’t want there.
Whenever I bring this up it is uncomfortable which I also understand because it’s hard having parents that don’t approve of your partner but also sometime she skirts around the criteria for what can make people banned from attendance. Most of my family would be allowed but hers would be so limited that I just feel horrible.
I feel like I’m taking away her being able to be walked down the aisle by her dad and all this other stuff and I don’t know how to really cope or comprehend it all.

I don’t know if this is just me but I feel like a year or two ago you could find a chassis and monitor mount integrated and even maybe a chair all at or around 500 bucks. But now a 250 basic chassis needs a 150 plus monitor mount or a standalone that’s like 200 and a 200 dollar seat with an extra 110 for ship even within the continental us?! 700 for the most basic setup without the actual hardware-wheels and pedals is insane. And the alternative is either gambling on “I know what I got “ marketplace where they are overpriced and always have extra stuff i wouldn’t need, or a 100 fabric chair made for children. I know this is a niche hobby but I feel like the options have dwindled. My current plan is to try and fine a chassis on sale at some point and a Golf Gti seat from pick and pull.

I’m moving across the us to Cali, and I have the opportunity now to upgrade my poorly cobbled together folding desk rig to something more stable.

-Moza r5 bundle is my current hardware
-running a single 24 inch monitor…. Will upgrade eventually
-all in one seating where I can play pc games standard and easily switch to sim
-I figure a desk and chair I would have bought would be 450 so if I can put in an extra 200 maybe 300 to have something for everything that would be awesome.

Let me know all your ideas!

I’m about a year and a couple months on hormones MtF and I have had good breast growth, but I am kinda suffering from success. My girlfriend’s parents don’t know and I would still occasionally like to take a dip in the pool. Anyone got any ideas to minimize the stares or questioning I might get. I will probably wear a swimshirt anyway but the current method of only going when everyone is asleep isn’t as good.