Laura, I am a disabled vet on a pension. I have to pay for my airline flights with miles and trade my experiences for my skills. Otherwise this would be out of my range. I have found ways to pay less for gear with pro discounts, find used gear, and make used gear last longer with good repairs. I'm with you. Just because I do these adventures doesn't mean I swim in cash (BWAHAHAHAHAHA) but like you I've had to find ways to stay in super cheap places, put up with less-than pleasant flight conditions and do trades whenever I can. I might not be quite as restricted as you but you will never ever ever EVER find me at a pricey resort. These days many of the big gear folks are offering trade ins and used gear shops, which make top quality gear that has had good repairs available to more of us. The main thing I do is find concessions who need visibility and trade my writing and consulting skills for the experience. Otherwise, I'd be armchairing it with NatGeo.