Check this place out. History buffs can browse literally for days. After an hour, I'd just scratched the surface.

http://www.ruudleeuw.com/index.html

As a wanna be who will most likely never be, I am enjoying the site, thanks for sharing.

JBoutfishn. To just start is one of the easiest things. If it's anything like here, some money to spend (say each week) walk into a flt. school, and they take it from there. Ist go probably straight away. I'd try to pick a quite place away from distractions. & you can tell us how you go. No need for any particular goals, even if you always need an instructor along for the ride.