Originally Posted by
gintasr
As far as QOL, the argument is back and forth that you get more days off than an average Joe per month, but I'd still prefer to be home every night, in my bed, and with my family rather than in a sleezy hotel or bar.
It's good if you can make it in the industry, but by then you'll probably be a grumpy and lonely old man that has a good story to tell at the bar but most likely lacks a family, a retirement, and a normal life.
To each his own. Flame on.
This is where I'm at also. Anymore, the money issue is just salt on the wound. Even if it payed well, I'm still gone way the hell too much! I still live out of hotel, still miss so much at home, and still have the stress of commuting or the stress of ripping the family up and moving 'cross country. But to not get paid well for how much I am asking my family to sacrifice, let alone what we as pilots give up - well we all know we get the short end of the stick.
For the first while, it wasn't an issue, but as time goes and I get older, my priorities are
really changing. And I'm realizing my priorities may not be compatible with this job. I used to not mind being on the road, staying in the hotels, but now the entire time I'm on a trip, I just long to be home with my family. Overnights are becoming miserable. I have to be honest, I've got a wife who's health has recently started declining - I've had to take two months off in the past year while she was hospitilized - and that is perhaps my biggest stress of being gone for days at a time.
And just to be clear, I don't fault anyone for loving this job. If that's you - fantastic! I'm not getting down on you at all, and I think it's great you are where you belong. You are among the lucky few who truly love what they do. I used to be there myself, but I've now become one of those whom I never thought I would - someone seriously considering walking away for good. Maybe.
I love to fly - just don't like everything else that comes with it.