Partly I stay because I still find that same excitement. Often I find it in someone new to the game who has much to learn.If I can help them for half an hour, get them headed up the right path, and share some of that same thrill. Well, life is good.
Partly because unlike a game that is static, that never changes. AH is very very much alive. It has a different feel to it with each year passed and each new plane released. Each new terrain brings out new tactics and techniques.
Look at how much just the wirblewind changed gameplay!
Partly because I have been incredibly blessed with a very very good bunch of people to fly with.
Not just my squadmates, although they are top notch, and I can't say enough good things about the 332nd Flying Mongrels. But also the other people, those I fly with, and against.
Sure there are flys in the ointment somedays. And somedays I deal with frustration, mostly that I can't fly like I used to. But hey, its 30 below up here in Dakota this morning. Can't do much in that without losing parts that won't grow back. Yet in AH the skys are sunny, the planes are hot, and the living, well its pretty dang good. As much as its changed over the years, this community is still very very good. Like the game, this community has changed. It changed a lot with the big influx of ex AW pilots. And while we may have for a time bemoaned the changes, those same pilots have brought a wealth of knowledge and skill, and ideas. It will continue to change as the times change.
And who knows what tommorow will bring?
Rock on HTC you keep on making it and for as long as I can I'll keep on flying it.