Agree, those with young families will find it hard, especially with no local family support and not a very strong/independent other half. It requires the other to keep it together and be able to get things done while your away). Extensions can happen, home a tad early can happen and these are rare at best (speaking for myself), bottom line on the hook for 17 days. Having that long period care free time off is priceless for many. Totally forget about this place other than selecting my flights with travel and packing, everything else I do on company time. Not like you don’t have plenty down time to do training, company bills, review, etc., especially with 30hr rest period’s instituted. Definitely makes it harder to leave but once on the way it’s pretty chill “job” if you want to call it that as the 74 is not a local air taxi but more like a travel bus. Having the ability to work on extended projects, spending quality time and no pressure getting to work or a hotel and returning home is a good thing. Really don’t know the meaning of care free until you are care free in this capacity. Just honoring the thread title. Probably won’t travel internationally much after retirement, just don’t see the need after seeing the world and while in your later half of 60’s or greater it doesn’t get any easier but 1st class will help.

*Oddly enough I have returned a day early or more on 3 patterns this year (abnormal) but you must weigh the risk of losing $. Balls in your court at times and sometimes it’s not. On a 16 day line currently with the potential of returning early but change happens without warning - fingers crossed. With the attrition rate we’ll see what lies ahead.