I would say you're not quite  ready to start saving for a rebuilt trans
yet,  unless...

1. miles are extremely high ..like 200K and you know it's pretty due anyway.

2. you have checked how much metal is on the magnetic drain plug ...that
can give you a clue. a dime size 'ball' of fine metal particles is
common there ....piece of gear tooth is not of course.

3. you've inspected and adjusted/serviced the shift mechanism thoroughly.
4. you've run it in the air, rear wheels off the ground, with shift
linkage disconnected...
  now if you find it won't come out of first easily there, and the lever
on the side of the trans is solidly on the splines...sure ...then you
can start thinking 'internal' .
5. you've tried it with fresh gear oil ....

granted ...it could easily be trans time.
I worked on someones waterboxer trans one time with a good 160K on it
..only symptom was stiff shifting.
  I worked  over the linkage super intensely ..
the entire shift linkage and  and put in new good  gear oil.
I had it working as good as when it was new I bet.
That 'held' for 2 weeks maybe ...it only really got fully fixed with a
trans rebuild.
so maybe you are due for a rebuild.
just be silly if there's something in the linkage between shift knob and
trans that is a major factor ..be nice to know or discover that first at
least.
No substiute for 'hands on' on and eyeballs looking carefully.

On 10/4/2015 8:44 AM, Dan N wrote:
> thanks Dennis...
>
> I guess the problem will get worse instead of better...
>
> I will start to feed my piggy bank more... waiting for the worse...
>
> I have some high end film cameras.... anyone want to buy some?
>
> hehe :-)
>