PLFXpert

Right on, Jessica. Ha ha ha. For me, I only have one fear in the world, and that's being old and not being able to take care of myself. Other than that, bring it on! You have no control over when will be your time to go (no matter how you slice it) so don't be afraid to do or try ANYTHING until then. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

No problem. Good luck. Remember, contrary to popular opinion on here, there is nothing wrong with what you want. The only thing, I see wrong, is not giving people a chance b/c at first glance, they don't fit that "ideal" you have set for yourself. Keep an open mind. There is nothing more beautiful. I guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised with what someone you might have dismissed has to offer..

There are a lot of ladies out there that fit your same description of living in a trailer and living off pack jobs. Don't discriminate. First, nothings wrong w/ the simple life of a trailer and skydiving all day. Sounds pretty ass tempting to me. But, I do see your point, and I must agree w/ the others, you're not looking hard enough. There are more than a few guys at my DZ who have nice homes and good jobs AND compete in skydiving. I met a hottie and snatched him right up, two years ago. But I got lucky. When I snatched him up, he didn't have any of that. When he fell in love w/ me, suddenly his goals changed. He wanted a house, he wanted a business and he got both. Let me tell ya, hunny, there are plenty more delectible choices around. There are also a lot of those "trailer guys" that you've dismissed that I think are pretty damn intelligent and a great catch, too. I've got what I want, but DAMN there are some mighty fine skydivers around. For me, it's a funny twist of events. I am working hard now and making good money so one day, I can retire, buy a nice trailer and live on the dz, skydiving all day. When I think of that, I think, "maybe these guys and girls have it figured out better than me. They bipased the job, the money, and went straight to the trailer and skydiving all day." So before you compare lifestyles, you might want to re-evaluate some things. To each his own. People take different paths to getting what they want out of life. If what you want is a skydiver w/ a good job and a nice house, there is NOTHING wrong w/ that. But in the process of looking, just make sure you don't write off people b/c at first glance, they might not fit your ideal. You might be surprised and trust me, skydivers are the sexiest guys around. There are plenty to choose from.

I agree. People should not be afraid of new experiences. Skydiving, for some people, is about facing fears. So face your fear about the door, open it a few times and chances are, you'll be fine w/ it. If you're not, then don't jump it. That would be understandable. But not giving it a chance, is not understandable, in my opinion. Oh geez. Not if she's on the next load. Fen for yourself, ya lazy skydiver.

I was thinking the same thing, Ray. I like this thread, though. I can't tell you how many times I had to walk from the front of the plane and scoot pass all the other jumpers b/c no-one in front of me knew how to open the skyvan door. The one guy I asked to help me on the right side, while I latched it, looked as if he thought he was going to fall out or something. Geez, that would have been scary if that happened. Ha ha ha! But hey, it's understandable if you don't know how. I feel, though, that if you don't know how to do something, offer to help or watch so next time, you'll know. But, ha ha ha, then again, I've watched how people spot and tried to spot several times and I still don't know if I do it right. But that's, a different thread, altogether. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Ha ha ha...That's the best I've heard in a while. I feel so sorry for you guys, never knowing if you're being a gentleman by opening a door for a woman or whether you're being a chauvenist. For me, I'm a feminist, but not the bra-burning type. I believe in equality of all people, genders and races. I'm an idealist at times and a realist at times. In this case, I feel it is simply a tradition and doesn't have some underlying submissive tone. To me, it's about praising the woman you want to be yours. Or vice versa, if a woman asked a man to marry her. Either way. But for most women, stand up, bend on one knee or do a hula dance, it doesn't matter. It's the question that matters. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

The only way I've ever seen skydiving pay for itself is by being sponsored. Otherwise, as far as I can tell, it never does. But who cares? I think it pays for itself just by getting out of it what I want. I'm graduating in December and working part-time. I can only afford about 3 or 4 jumps a week and still pay my bills, invest and save. I'm hoping, for me, that after I graduate, I'll be making a lot more money to jump a lot more. But for now, I'll take what I can get. It takes a LOT of jumps before most people are good enough to get picked up by sponsors, so I think everyone pays their fair share of money in this sport, even those that are now sponsored and traveling all over the world. I think there are only a few lucky ones who had mothers or fathers who owned a dz and let their kids learn and jump for free. But those cases are rare. Like I said, for the most part, everyone pays their dues in this sport. It's easier for some, than others, but you do what you gotta do. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I could agree or disagree with that. I see your point. However, there are many AFF students who end up having to cutaway, anyways, b/c of a malfunctioning canopy. But like you said, it might be more appropriate for a qualitfication of a D liscense or something. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Not a bad idea! I haven't had a cutaway, yet, either (knock on wood.) I wouldn't say I'm anxious to have one (I'm pretty happy when my canopy opens square and steerable), but I also know I will feel better after I've had one. I've had line twists on several jumps. However, the line twists all happened on my old canopy which was so big, the damn thing was still square, even though I kicked out 8 times! I wasn't even spinning out of control or anything. So, I can't say I've ever had that nervous feeling. There's only been one time that I almost pulled my reserve. It happened when I couldn't pull my pilot chute out. I was yanking hard but the damn thing would not come out of the pouch. You know you're thinking so fast and in my mind I thought, "I'll give it one last yank and if it doesn't come out, I"m going for my reserve." I yanked hard and, thankfully, it came out." That was the only time I'd ever thought about my reserve in freefall. I like the idea of an intentional cutaway. I wonder why they don't have a level like that in AFF. Like, it would be cool if there were an AFF level 8 where you had 3 parachutes on and had to perform an intentional cutaway. I think it would be good practice. Anyone else? Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Tee, that's fantastic, hunny! The man gets brownic points for being so creative! Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Very cool, Amber! I didn't know they had a program called ISP. When I started jumping, I signed up, first jump, for AFF1 because I knew I wanted my liscense. However, when I got there, they told me it would be an all-day event and I didn't have all day so, since I was there, I decided to do a tandem and reschedule my AFF. I am glad I did the tandem first b/c I think it let me know what to expect. I finished my AFF in 5 levels instead of 7. I think doing a tandem before jumping into AFF prepared me and I was completely relaxed throughout my course. Has anyone else heard of ISP? Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Ohhhhhhh, yea, then I hear you. It seems like common sense to demo a canopy for a few jumps before you commit to purchase. But who knows what happened? I'll see you soon, Ray.

Hey Ray...just to pick on you: Maybe they have jumped them and are selling to get a new or smaller one? BZ just sold his Stilletto 97 a while back w/ 2000 jumps on it so he could buy his Velocity 90. Maybe these people are doing the same, or does it say something like, "10 jumps on it" in the ad? If that's the case, I'd say you're right.

Yikes. Is it the dreaded "personility test." You know, the one that takes three hours and asks the same questions over and over to make sure you answer them in the same fashion each time? Ha ha ha. If you need some tips, for example, what to say when your interviewer asks, "What would you say your weakness is?," let me know. I'll be happy to help.

Ha ha ha. It's terrible but it's all I got, people. I hear you about the office w/ no windows. I love that our office is all windows. When I got to school, though, picture a box w/ flourescent lights. You go into class and it's sunny outside. You get out of class and it's a hurricane, and you had no idea. Why do they do that? I think if there were a study doen, they'd find that people are more relaxed and work better when they have windows.

I don't wear mine, either.......Oh, wait, I don't have one. Ha ha ha.

Happy Birthday, Dave! I feel the same way, JumpNFly. I work at an office on the intracoastal water and three entire walls of our office are WINDOWS. So not only do I get to stare at the BLUE SKY but also, the ENTICING water. You can almost hear a faint whisper, "Caaarrrrie, come out and play w/ us." It's better than working in an office w/ no view, though. I must admit, I LOVE watching the clouds roll by outside as I work. It puts things in perspective; like why I'm working at all. Besides, I get to bother Andrea (SkyMama) all day on instant messenger when I work. Ha ha ha. I even send her silly faxes when I'm bored. Much love and blue skies, everyone! Carrie

Hey Stacy, looking forward to seeing you again. Hopefully it won't be like last weekend and we won't be on a "weather hold" when it's clear blue skies above. BZ and I will be there jumping our asses off so we'll see you Sat. Much love and blue skies, Carrie http://www.geocities.com/skydivegrl20/

Nice! Much love and blue skies, Carrie http://www.geocities.com/skydivegrl20/

It said my name is "Cinque." I'm not really even sure how to pronounce that but I hope it's not as in, "N-Cinque" or I'll cry. Much love and blue skies, Carrie http://www.geocities.com/skydivegrl20/

*bunches*:3:0 Wasn't feeling too well this weekend. Much love and blue skies, Carrie http://www.geocities.com/skydivegrl20/

I'll jump out of anything...BUT, if I have a choice, I'd much prefer the SkyVan or the Twin Otter. The DZ I learned to skydive at only had a porter and a cesna. During AFF, I MUCH prefered the cesna b/c the preparation of leaving the plane was much easier than on the porter for student status exits. However, once I graduated AFF, I preferred the porter and when that DZ closed and I began jumping in Deland, I FELL IN LOVE w/ the otter and the skyvan. I'm spoiled rotten in Deland but if I were to go somewhere that didn't have the same luxuries, I wouldn't mind. If it can get me to altitude to jump out of, I'm all for it

It sounds like you had a case of what I call, "ground sickness." I'm serious! Sometimes, if I'm not feeling well, as soon as I get in the plane and jump out, I feel 100% better

Geez...sounds like you all have found a way to make it work. For me, although I hope I'm with BZ forever, if for some reason it didn't work out, I don't think I would be interested in a non-skydiver. BZ and I spend our time together at the drop zone every weekend. It's so wonderful jumping w/ the one you love and understanding something that is an important part of their life. Although you guys seem to have made it work w/ a non-jumper, I think you are very lucky and in the minority, and you should realize that your significant others must be pretty special. There aren't too many people out their that could put up w/ someone being gone every weekend and spending so much money at the same time. For me, I LOVE skydivers and I'm IN LOVE w/ my skydiving boyfriend. When I started jumping, not only did I fall in love w/ the sport, but I fell in love w/ my new family and I met the love of my life after I started jumping