There is always the possibility that there are simply no active Shotokan practitioners in your area. If that turns out to be the case, I would encourage you to seek training in another art, even if it means "starting over," so to speak. This is good advise.After doing Shotokan for 35 years, it would not be easy to close the chapter on Shotokan and start something new. I understand and appreciate your advice as well. Some sort of compromise is going to be needed if I can't find any Shotokan practitioners locally. Having said that, I have not lost hope yet.Farid