Amen, Peter! Many of my friends who ARE good instrumentalists who started as adults, did so at a time in their lives when they were un- or under-employed and/or alone. Making music, wrapping themselves around an instrument and really learning how to play was a wonderful escape from a rather dreary world. When you have an already full life of work, home, friends and hobbies, you have to be especially driven to take up an instrument from scratch!