My goal is going to be to move forward and to leave as many options on the table as possible. As to what that entails, I don't know, beyond the fact that I will wait for my furlough notice rather than quit. I will likely take that as an opportunity to collect unemployment and to go to school full time to finish my CPA. Even if I get one semester in (5 classes if full time), while collecting unemployment, that's one hell of a head start. I cannot live on unemployment, but it will slow down the fall while I take the time to really kick arse and take names. Then, I will have to decide exactly when to actually get an accounting job. This will raise my income substantially, but will reduce my time available for school.
One concern is that if I get my call back while in the middle of school, what will I do then? But, there is no need to think about that until it happens.
My gut tells me that my company is going out of business. The alter ego they created is growing and the original company is shrinking, probably down to nothing. Once United goes under (and I hope it doesn't), its game over for my involvement with this particular regional. However, the furlough would have been of value due to my ability to collect unemployment.
I'll then be faced with finishing school just to finish, then trying aviation again, or sticking with accounting. It'll just depend on my mood and the condition of the industry, I guess.