I guess, how do I decide where to commit my research to before contacting all these people and sticking it out.

I would recommend shadowing a few agents for the next 3-4 months, see if you like it and then commit into the business.

I guess this would another layer of protection before committing to a contract that will cost more money.

First, ask them if a test is done (notice not commiting to by whom) and comes back positive, what will they want?

Depends on your commitment and ability to get great returns (and add skillsets to win).

Depending on your job, family, and other commitments can you afford to spend a ton of time in AZ while this is going on?

. - things that are prevalent in normal times and certainly, in not-so-normal-times, too.However, RV & Boat Storage is similar but different, in that approx 1 out of 10 folks in the USA rents a Self Storage Unit, and that is not the case with Boats & RV's; hence it being a much more niche strategy. 

I needed to sell because I already committed to buying a property home at the beach.

Add to this all the social unrest and upheaval in school systems which again most prevalent in populous dense areas.... 

That means the benefits of real estate fall directly to the buyer once they take control.Lower Barrier To Entry: Subject to financing strategies allow buyers to acquire properties without committing to the large down payments we have grown accustomed to.