You will get there. The first thing to do is to define your goals. Your goals might not be my goals (and clearly yours aren't mine--the closest I've come to camping was a zillion years ago in my Cub Scout days--now I think I'm roughing it if there isn't a towel warmer in my hotel room!). As others have pointed out, airline miles are not the only method of getting closer to your travel goals; however, if you now want to do more airline travel, you'll probably find that this is the golden era for accumulating miles.

The second thing to do is become more aware of your opportunities. As an example, my extended family asked me to be responsible for planning our group gift to one of my sisters and her husband for their wedding anniversary. I was fortunate that the group's goals in this situation meshed nicely with my goals.

Using the information I learned here, I arranged a hotel for my sister and brother-in-law through a hotel chain that gives me nice benefits (and also some nicely earned points for using them). I set up a dinner for them at a restaurant that also participates in a dining loyalty program with one of the airlines. I then charged all of this on a credit card that earns me points through the Amex Membership Rewards program (which I'll use later this summer to convert, at a 50% bonus, to miles in the British Airways program). And, because I'm getting contributions from my other family members while serving as the banker for this gift, I'll get all of these rewards while contributing only 20% of the total cost. Spend some time reading the threads; you'll start understanding where your own opportunities lie.

This is not genius stuff; it'll take a little work and research on your part to start getting the basics. But I learned fairly quickly the wisdom of an old saying: "The first right answer isn't necessarily the only right answer." In other words, don't over commit yourself to credit card offers that ultimately might not meet your travel needs. Figure your needs out first; then go get the programs that will meet those needs.