Nice! I have been a license Amateur Radio Operater for about 24 years. (Damn I'm old!) I remember using my first Handy Talkie when my oldest was born. Well, I think I owned it, but could only listen at the time!
I have meant to upgrade my no-code tech license (or whatever is that is called today) but haven't sat down to study for the tests.
I have a J-Pole on my roof and I can plug in my Handy Talkie, or one of my Mobile radios, but I haven't for years. Internet and Cellular phones have made radio less interesting. I used to enjoy making local calls on the Autopatch back in the day.
Maybe some day I'll take up my buddy's offer to try out his old Heathkit. I doubt I could reach MP from Reed City on 2 Meters. Not sure if the Link system goes close enough to MP for your use. I have no idea what repeaters are running these days, actually.
I really started into radio because some friends did, and I wanted to learn more about electronics. I found out that there isn't much practical learning in HAM radio. Or at least I can't seem to learn it.
But I have several other hobbies. These days I am making a forge to make knives from. And I have cars to work on (Constantly), plus some other things. I'd like to play more guitar, but I'm at the point where I really want to play with a few other guys in a band kind of thing. And there is nobody around here to jam with that I know. So my guitars mostly sit there. I STILL haven't soldered a cap onto my tone circuit in my old Kramer Focus 1000 frankenstein guitar. Maybe that's a small project to get done this weekend.