Recently bought a SUP due to the prediction of a very average summer ahead for waves, fitness and just to try something new. Talked about buying one for ages and thought about it even longer.
Have had a lot of help from a mate in picking the board, tips for paddling, where to go etc..no need to mention names, he knows who he is 
Just a few observations thought I would share:
1. Humbling - had to de-tune expectations, stay posostive at the start and take in the good advice.
2. Comradery - Never experienced anything like it, everyone I come across who is in the sport is super passionate and friendly with advice, in and out of the water, happy to lend gear. Longboarding has similar vibe but have to admit SUP crew are next level.
3. Progression - I don't think you could ever be bored of the SUP - Marinas, surf, lakes, estuaries, mean you can SUP in almost any conditions.
Recently started heading out in the open ocean and man what a difference it is, falling off all the time again!
My board is a 10'6 x 28.5 Jimmy Lewis Hanalei, cant wait til I can get the hang of it to start surfing.
Yep, great sport this one, has totally changed my life.
I'm more active, fitter than I have been in a long time, weigh less, look forward to training even in crap conditions, get super itchy if I haven't paddled in a few days and look forward to the challenge of mastering all the disciplines. After my second year at the Forster race last weekend and a disappointing result (changed my paddle the night before the race, I know rookie mistake) I'm now turning my attention to mastering the open ocean and feel like a kid at Christmas all over again. 
Nice to have fun.....one would suspect that is quite an old school narrow and tippy board unless one was a lightweight......narrow is good on flatwater though
^^^^^ Like he says. Except I only surf SUP and don't train. I found it became "quietly addictive". It also got me back into surfing again which is a good thing as my daughter has started surfing and is at full grommet madness - surf anything all the time, constantly keen. So its great I can go for a surf with her when its not crap. ( I am fussy with age ).
I reccon 90% of the time I go for the SUP over the surfboard. That remainder 10% is either with the daughter or in conditions that you can't surf a sup like a short board - I don't care how short a SUP can be there is a point it is just not fun anymore.
But stick with it Souwester and you'll be as mad as the rest of us!
Souwester said:
"1. Humbling - had to de-tune expectations, stay posostive at the start and take in the good advice.
2. Comradery - Never experienced anything like it, everyone I come across who is in the sport is super passionate and friendly with advice, in and out of the water, happy to lend gear. Longboarding has similar vibe but have to admit SUP crew are next level.
3. Progression - I don't think you could ever be bored of the SUP - Marinas, surf, lakes, estuaries, mean you can SUP in almost any conditions. "
Awesome, you nailed it... love the stoke! Welcome to Never-Neverland 
