NWDC10
Total BS. The career has been every bit as difficult in the past. I went to UPT in the Guard, lived in a studio for five years; flying Citations and ANG. Guys said, "you missed the late '70s boom, but will be first in the next wave. I was--at EAL! Wonderful, winning deal. Went back in the AF until retiring, passing on several hiring chances due to the risks. Now, at a great corporate gig at 59.
Deal with it, you can always make excuses, but at some point you have to look in the mirror.
The question is: do you want to fly airplanes or not? No excuses, no ifs, ands or buts, fly or not?
GF