I don't feel comfortable doing my first sub2 on a house 7 hours away from me and wasn't sure if there was enough meat on the bone to wholesale it to a more experienced and local investor.

You would need to be comfortable with your co-lenders and perhaps sign a Participation Agreement with them. 

As you grow and become comfortable with a type of marketing, master a new one.

While the margins are not what they were a couple years ago people are still making very comfortable livings making hundreds of thousands a year flipping here.  

I am really stepping out of my comfort zone this year not only with investing but also even posting this post!!

Bottom line: You're in the drivers seat and all the other REI persons in your life simply come along side and can only really assist you if/when you're CLEAR about your vision.

Do not appear to be in a rush though, or they will not feel comfortable.  

I do plan to cash flow a decent amount and save that money for reserves for the house/life expenses and when I feel comfortable and have more cash to play with hopefully rent out my current residence and buy a new rental/personal residence when the law allows me to qualify my first property as strictly a rental.

Just start small, with something manageable, and grow your business as you get more comfortable.    

I think you're around the range of cash flow that I would be comfortable with, however I wonder if there is any HOA or community fee.