In addition to my aviation endeavors, I also have interests in classic Porsches and the arts. Last year, my new partners and I opened an art gallery and photo studio in Dallas. To promote the gallery and studio space, we had an opening exhibition in November, and just after Christmas, I organized a gathering of my local classic Porsche club at the gallery’s historic building downtown.
The morning of the gathering, I got to the gallery a little early to set up some coffee for the Porsche club members. Meetups like this are more about connecting with like-minded humans than drooling over the cars, although lots of drooling does occur.
Not everyone encountered is a car nerd like most of us. While I was setting up the coffee table, before the group was scheduled to arrive at 8:00 AM, a couple of young people happened to pass by the small parking lot and struck up a conversation. They stopped to ask what I was doing and were intrigued by the Porsche group. They listened in wonder as I explained that I worked in aviation, had an interest in cars, and also managed the gallery upstairs in the adjacent building.
The passersby walked on after a while, and the Porsches moved in. I already knew a few of the attendees, but most were new to me. A few years ago, I sold my air-cooled 911 in exchange for an also-classic water-cooled 911. This club favors the air-cooled variety, but I still maintain friendships in the group and thought the gathering at the gallery would be appreciated for its historic location in Dallas’s Deep Ellum neighborhood. The location provides a unique setting for car photography.
While talking cars with the owner of a particularly fine classic 911, we both realized that we share an interest in aviation. I mentioned this magazine, and he exclaimed with excitement that he was not only a pilot but also a monthly reader of Twin & Turbine. We enjoyed discussing our shared twin-Cessna backgrounds and our fondness for Cessna’s 300- and 400-series platforms.
The current owner of my former air-cooled 911 was also in attendance. I learned that he also has an interest in photography and art. We intend to collaborate on projects in the future.
Having fun and working are not mutually exclusive. They can go together, and when we can make it to the point in life where our interests, both in-office and out-of-office, collide, well, that’s when things get fun. Have a wonderful 2026.
