Heard Joanie Madden one day and thought “I have to learn whistle”!
0 months - Feadog
6 months - Susato
1 year - Burke
Started listening to flute players to learn ornamentation styles…got bit by the bug.
1.5 years - Forbes (love love love it!)
2.5 years - Reviol (keyed) being made…
Is this the support group?
Hmmmmmm… yes it can be, however self motivation is best, 
and I think you have it.
lol
Welcome!
Yes, this is a support group, and your depiction of the whistle as a “gateway drug” seems realistic!
I wonder how many have been seduced by such a thing, so small, so inexpensive, and so much fun.
No, this is the Wrong group.
To be part of this group you have to suffer from Flute Acquisition Disorder and help keep the important Traditional Flute Making Cartel (of which I have been an important member of since 1981) employed in these hard economic times. You can do this, and become more part of this group, by purchasing More flutes from us. Many more.
Not only flutes in different pitches (mine come in the alto flute pitches down to A all the way up to the soprano pitches in F and G) but purchase several in D, to savor the nuanced differences between them. You will find that different flutes suit different moods and atmospheric pressures. Plus it is always good to have spares laying around when one needs to go back for servicing or if you merely can’t remember where you put it. Or heavens forbid, your flute in its case gets misstook for a wallet at a session in a bar and gets swiped, only to be probably discarded in a dumpster by the disappointed and musically ignorant thief (this actually happened to the great Matt Molloy with his previous and precious Olwell 8 key a number of years back. Stuff happens.).
From that list I can tell that you need to start purchasing more flutes today. Everyone needs to!
Casey
No this is just the baby play area.
you are hooked when you join the Dark Side. 
David
Flute Acquisition Disorder
F.A.D. Ouch, that stings.
“Look into my eyes, look into my eyes. Not around the eyes. Look into my eyes. You’re under.
You need a CB Folk Flute…” 
This is the support group. In the same sense that for drug addicts, fellow junkies and drug dealers and couriers and head shops are their support group.