Congrats. I still have some months to go, but hoping by the end of summer I will be joining you.
I also want to learn more about taking pictures. I bought a decent dslr camera, but have quickly learnt that the camera doesn't make up for the photographers lack of skills, lol.
Next stop will be Orca for you and hopefully I will be close behind you then as well.
If I could buy the most expensive camera system on the market, the best lenses, and gyroscopic controlled tripod, I would still be just a backyard type photographer, but I do like it, the DSLR does help, and I am slowly learning how to take better pictures, mostly by looking close at the pictures of others that I like to get a better feel for composition.
I look forward to the day I am an Orca.