Wow, that's a long time! I'm sure you could find another instrument you can play. Once you get the hang of one it's not too difficult to learn another. Each instrument after that gets easier and easier. Because I play trumpet I probably wouldn't be too bad at French Horn or Baritone. In fact, I've known a few people that started out on one and switch to the other occasionally. The same thing happens with clarinets and saxophones. Besides, base 3 isn't hard, it's just different. Except when you start throwing in letters, then it gets weird.