If you start HAM radio now, in 5-10yrs you'll inherit the local club just by showing up.

It's not hard to her started and along the way there will be lots of cheap radios at estate sales.  

 I went to one estate sale and the guy had a huge antenna rig the wife wanted to sell me. Old school classic stuff 

 But did you buy it?!?! 

 I was a young ham at that point and felt intimidated. I also lived in an apartment so that was a no-go 

 Understandable.