Originally Posted by
Lucifer
Solid advice. Follow your desire. You have 29 years left for airlines. After that there are plenty of solid 135, fractional, and 91 operators to work for. Some 121's even let guys stay on as instructors after retirement.
If you knock out your ratings and keep yourself busy you'll be ready for when hiring resumes.
Good luck.
And if you (anyone reading this) aspire to work at a major, and do not have a 4 year college degree, go knock that out.