You never know when one of those children you inspire today with your time and energy will turn out to be another great researcher. The old guard will have to change, and who will be there to replace the likes of Barry Rice, Donald Schnell, Joe Marzimas, Robert Gibson, Allen Lowrie, Jan Schlauer, Phill Mann (to name but a few)? I hope that they are here with us now, reading this post. You can take this hobby as far as you can go with it: as far as your inspiration will lift you. There is little monetary reward for such hard work, but once again, it is not money that makes us live, or that makes life worth living. The wonder and beauty of these plants has appealed to the finest minds, from Charles Darwin until now. This is a hobby rich in tradition and honor for the Earth, affording everything from a simple delight in the incredible genius of a Creation that could bring forth such miraculous plants, to a deeper glimpse into the workings of evolution that crystalizes potential into being over a length of time long enough to erode mountains the size of the Andes into sand! These plants "get under your skin" as Phill Mann so eloquently stated to me on learning of my return to cultivation after a long period of inactivity. It all starts as an appreciation for the often bizzare "personalities" that these plants demonstrate, but it can lead to some awesome realizations, and a hunger to understand the process by which these "organic beings" have come to be. What comes from this appreciation of the plants is a respect for the Earth and it's diversity. In these times of consumerism and commodification this lesson is vital, and the students of today will be the teachers of tomorrow. We all sow more than just seeds when we send out little envelopes for a SASE. The harvest will bring another generation that takes pride in this Earth we all share.