Originally Posted by Freightpuppy
I would like to know what people do when they leave aviation. If you don't have any other skills besides aviation, what is one to do that will make them a liveable wage? I have worked another job and would shoot myself in the head if I knew that I would have to go there 40 hours a week for the rest of my life. Starting a family really isn't going to do me a lot of good when I cannot feed the kids and I am miserable going to work.
I do think it takes long to get to a good flying job. I also think that people want instant gratification and when they don't get it, they give up. I have put off marriage and children for this job myself. My fiancee is understanding (he is in the industry) and I wouldn't be with him if he wasn't. We can always get married.....what is the big dang hurry? As far as kids....I do get nervous sometimes that I will wait too long but if I just went ahead and had some and quit flying, I would be miserable. Everyone is different though.
Everyone is different. In life there is a huge opportunity cost in the path not taken. Since the airlines I have been building houses and am shocked by what other simple professions can earn. After pounding my head into the brick wall of the airlines everything else seems easy by comparison. I have airline friends who now are cops, build decks, firefighters, computer network executives and many other professions. Their lives quickly turned around after leaving the airport. They now own homes are building families and taking vacations for the first time in their lives. In addition now that my life is in sync with the rest of the worlds my social life has hugely improved. Just last weekend my family and I went on a four family camping trip. That never would have happened if I was still flying. I think it is important for everyone to periodically take stock of what the costs are and re-evaluate if it is still worth it to stay flying.
SkyHigh