Living on 100K+ in Cali is better than 20-30K elsewhere in the U.S. If you want to pursue your ratings, do so. Don't give up the golden goose in the meantime though! I'd find out where your company's hangar is and go talk to their pilots. Maybe if you network right, you could slide in there down the road. Better yet, buy a Pitts, Stearman, Cub, etc., and fly for the pure enjoyment of it!