Originally Posted by
johnso29
Do people really spend this much...I think this is the extreme case. I spent nowhere near this much time or money. Everything in here is YOUR life and YOUR case. Just because this is what happened to YOU does not mean it is what will happen to everyone else. Many others will move on to meaningful careers which they are happy with and enjoy. Others will be unhappy and try different things. Everyones life and case is different. There are many different circumstances for everyone. Some have sick parents or grandparents or children. Some live in expensive parts of the country, others have inherited debt. My point is that everyones life is NOT LIKE YOURS, so good for you that you found something that makes YOU happy. Flying makes me happy. I have no children, and I live in the Midwest so cost of living is not even close to Seattle, therefore I do not consider my choice to fly to be selfish. My current income is right on par if not higher than most jobs in my area. It certainly beats police officers, UPS Drivers, and Garbage Men. Flying makes me happy, and YOU WILL NEVER CHANGE THAT!
Go and be happy. If your dream in life is to be a loner recluse then you have found the perfect occupation. One day if you are lucky you might get married and have children and if that day comes the sacrifices you are currently making will become painfully obvious.
You are right. I do make assumptions based upon my own life. I assume that others have similar desires as to myself. I assume that most wish to have a full and balanced life, that they are concerned about their own financial well being, that they value time at home and to have the ability to pursue outside interests. My guess would be that others desire to have their efforts be fairly compensated and to enjoy at least a middle class lifestyle after so much effort, education, training and expense. Anyone with a rational bearing on the future should have some kind of retirement concerns as well.
I am consistently proven wrong about my assumptions. Some seem to have their heads in the sand, they don't seem to take an honest measure of their returns. Their actions are in compatible with what most rational people would do or ecpect. They live in a well fortified world of denial and those people are called airline pilots. How else can they be comfortable with the current situation?
SkyHigh