~ 20 years.
Ok, here is what I just learned. A SURPRISINGLY SMALL leak will compromise the pump.
I wrapped a plastic bag around all of the connections and no movement.
I wrapped it around the skimmer pot and it slowly began to collapse on itself until it was suctioned tight against the pot.
This next part was a bad idea but it has me moving forward. I put caulk all around the inside and put the lid back on. Turned the pump on and the skimmer pot started pulling in about 2x the volume of water it was before. It is actually running and generating chlorine and all that good stuff. The pot isn't filling completely and wrapping the bag around it now, still shows some suction so I have reduced the amount of air coming in but not eliminated it completely. I would have thought it would have taken a golf ball size hole in the system to cause this problem but it looks like something as small as what I will call "Seepage" is enough to compromise the ability to pull water at the rate needed. I am going to buy a new lid since this one is covered in caulk now and get a new seal. Hopefully that is the end of it.