RickF wrote:The older professional, career types who enjoy climbing and mountaineering have committed a large part of their steady income to support their families and maintain a comfortable standard of living. They have a lot of nice gear but not as much time available for adventure as they would like.
^^^This iz korrekt.
If you wanna have plenty of money for gear/climbing trips, I strongly urge you not to have kids. (They expensive!) Wives, too.
Of course, you'll be missing out on the myriad joys of marriage and parenthood. Your call.
RickF wrote:Climbers and mountaineers are a still a small minority of society. Most of my middle-class friends, aquaintences and colleages spend most of their time and money on motorcycles, quads, buggies, jet-skis, boats, toy-haulers and motor-homes.
^^^Also korrekt.
I'm always surprised when friends complain about having "no money" but yet fail to see all the cash tied-up in their "toys" sitting in the garage, shed and driveway (or in a storage locker that they're paying $100+/month for)...
One of the things I like about climbing is that, for the most part, if you buy good quality, the gear lasts a long time. (Soft goods like ropes and slings that should be periodically replaced notwithstanding.) My partner still uses his rigid-stem Friends that he was climbing in the Gunks with back in the 80's, though I think I've convinced him to finally replace some of his many BD Ovals with a wiregate or two...
Compare this with a motorhome or a boat which, besides filling up with gas every weekend, you need to make payments on, pay insurance for, make repairs on, etc.