you should also consider buying a place and renting it out half the time to cover the mortgage.
For me and my wife (and now my son, and next year my daughter), snowboarding and skiing are a lifestyle, and we will do whatever it takes to maintain it. Hey, if the kids wants private college bad enough, they can win themselves scholarships. Nothing wrong with UMaine!!
Oh, and the one mountain thing is a good thing - when you know every inch of it, you can really concentrate on your carving without wondering what's over the next drop/around the next corner.