Stick to it Sky, I want to hear your musings. Also, keep looking for another flying job so we can hear how that's going.

If and when regionals bump up the payscale for second-year FOs to $40k, I will eat the salary loss at my present job and apply to an airline. Many would say this is join-the-circus mentality, because it is unlikely I would ever make back wages lost from my present job.

At some point you have to ask what life is all about, security on the one hand or reaching ones fullest potential on the other. I think I would reach my fullest potential flying for a living, but the financial picture still doesn't work in that scenario. Since I am single and middle-aged I wouldn't be jeopardizing anyone's future except my own but for a family man or woman it would be irresponsible.