I love playing but the idea of financial gain from it is laughable. I get lots of other benefits, though.

I imagine, like most other creative arts (e.g., programming), first you have to really want to do it, then that makes you learn how to do it, and if you wind up learning to do it well you may be able to make money at it. Maybe.

Same. I've played guitar for 22 years (mainly steel string acoustic), but last year started learning classical and I cannot get enough of it, even though I'm pretty shit at it. It's so much fun to learn, even though no one will ever hear it.

Are you a kid, though?