USMCFLYR

Not that I expect that you will - nor do I say you need to - but if you were to search my posting history you would see that I never disagreed with you on that fact and have said the EXACT same thing over and over. What I disagree - or better yet disapprove - of is the WAY that you present the information. I posted one time giving my opinion that you both spoke negatively about the profession like the political or religious extremists......the fact that you can't say ANYTHING good about the profession - one that you both profess to love so much (I believe Sky even responded that he had nothing good to say). I asked for a balanced approach and usually congratulate Sky when he actually posts something along those lines and not something calling professional pilots deragatory names and saying that they don't take care of their families.
I have said from day one on this forum that my biggest mistake and worry is that there isn't anything else that I want to do other than fly professionally when I retire. With the industry in the turmoil it is in right now I basically worry about it everyday.

USMCFLYR

TonyMontana

Well, I can say some good things about the profession, just nothing good about the financial viability of it, as it pertains to providing for my family and me. I am VERY proud of the job I did for 13 total years at 2 regionals. Met some of the best people in the world, whom I still to this day admire and am proud to call friends. Never failed to get that handshake and pat on the back for a job well done at the end of the month, (except for the 2 or 3 times I got stuck with a richard cranium-you know every airline has one or three.)

Flying soldiers home from the gulf war, 1 and 2, who had not seen their child born. I could go on and on.

But in the end, I just couldn't afford it. And now I'm much better off.

Just my story.

KITT

I'd go back to school, go into computers and live a "normal" life.

HercDriver130

two points.....your JOB should not be your life... but should be a way to a satisfying life....( what that is is up to each person )

In the end... my wife of nearly a quarter century will tell you that In all those years.... I am a much better person to go thru life with when I am flying.... than those DARK years that I did not. as TM said.. just my story.

xkuzme1

It should not be the the job that defines you, and it should not be you that defines the job.

What defines a person is, the manor in wich they do the job that they do. That is part of what is wrong with the country.

What ever you do, do well and be proud of the job that you do. Take pride in knowing that you did the best you could. I dont care if you mop the floors at a peep show or you designed the space shuttle single handedly. Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

Led Zep

I have always said (and continue to say) that my job defines what I do as opposed to who I am. With that being said I still very much enjoy what I do for a living, but at the end of the day it is a means to a paycheck.

Excellent questions and scenarios. This is something everyone should think about - regardless of chosen profession. I would like to address this in several parts.

First, I am not bragging or boasting with my first response, but rather hoping to impart some wisdom and sound advice to those who read this. What would I do should probably be replaced with the question "what would I have?" if my job dried up tomorrow. What I would have is something very precious in that given situation - time.

Through financial discipline and the foresight to plan ahead, I could go at least a couple of years without a paycheck. Would I want to? No. In the event of a job loss I would like to establish cash flow as quickly as possible. The advantage of having time on one's side is that it allows you more options and flexibility.

Live below your means. Pay off ALL of your debt. Have money saved up for emergencies.

I could very easily start over with another carrier, even if it means starting at the bottom of a seniority list. While there would definitely be a cut in pay, I am at an advantage in that I could easily absorb it. The big question is would I want to continue flying?

I'm not really sure that I would. I would list all of my interests, skill sets, jobs with those interests/skills available, and salaries. My goal would be to best match a desired career with a good salary. I don't want a dream job with miserable pay, nor do I want a miserable job with a gold mine attached to it. The balance is somewhere in the middle. Again, the key to accepting that balance is directly proportional to how well suited you are financially.

I have many interests and could easily find satisfaction in other career fields. Going back to college would certainly be an option too. At the end of the day, if I do miss flying I can always continue to practice it as a hobby.

GQpilot

I lost my medical in March. It's surprising to the extent at which my job defined me. There is, I think a tremendous amount of pride in being a good pilot. Besides that it is just plane fun. Some of the best people to work with too. Best of luck to all those leaving the career of flying both voluntary and unvoluntary.