I am pretty much a novice and still learning. I think it is well worth the money to join the forum. The pay tutorials are a big help. In this age of Covid, it is difficult to get together with anyone, but If you go to the Jersey Shore, there has been a great weekend event, usually early October called LBI Fly. This may or may not happen this year, but if it does, there usually are people there who can help you learn to fly. It is at Ship Bottom NJ on Long Beach Island.