I have mourned the rapid decline of general aviation. The reasons are great and varied, but it has really become a rich-man's hobby. One of greatest material possession I ever owned was an airplane. But...it was an expensive hobby...
Yes, looking back, one of the most fun times in my life was buying a Piper Tri-Pacer, just barely affordable for me at age 25. The longest trip I ever took with it was to Oshkosh in 1976, and that was a blast. I pitched a tent under the wing and the wake-up alarm at 6:00 AM every day was a 727 at takeoff thrust about 50 yards away.
I only had it two years but what a fun period that was!