I don't post much around here, but after reading TBoneF15's thread I thought I might slit my wrists...

I've been at Purple a little over 4 yrs. I was on the panel for 1 yr. I sat reserve for 3 months. I left narrowbody right seat after two yrs, only after having passed on two opportunities to go to the widebody. I haven't stood reserve since the company gave it to me as a new hire.

I commute. I have (knock on wood) never missed Christmas, Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving, nor most of my childrens'/spouse's birthdays.

I waited 2 yrs in the hiring pool, which SUK'd, but after one year on the property I made more that when I got out as an O-4 (without bonus).

BTW, even as a new-hire at Purple, you get 2 7-day blocks of vacation, which roughly translates to almost TWO MONTHS OFF, depending on how good you are at strategic vacation-bidding. You may not get your vacation block on Xmas/New Years/T'giving etc. if you are junior, but you can still bid around them.

Granted today's economic environment, coupled w/ Age 65 will slow things down a good bit, but JEEZ, it's not really THAT BAD for everyone at Purple (or Brown, I suspect).

Given the choice of stayin' in or gettin' out, I still say I made the right one. Just my .00003 Euros...