32 years ago, I was a 22 year old sched Part 135 Captain when I discovered I was very bored with "gear up, autopilot on". And I realized my great distaste for being on the road and sleeping in hotels. So I embarked upon my Plan B ...... I became a cop. I have never regretted it. The first 20 years of my law enforcement career was spent mostly in uniformed patrol and Detective/undercover work, in inner city, gang infested, urban areas. I got far more excitement and adrenaline-action (which is what I finally realized that I was looking for in a career) than the vast majority of aviation jobs, other than military flying, which my eyesight was not good enough for. AND I spent every night at home and in my own bed. At around the 20 year mark of my cop career, after I got a bit old for the fightin and the shootin, I got transferred to the aviation unit of my Department, where I now - in the twilight of my law enforcement career - get to fly both helos and fixed wing aircraft, in a variety of missions, such as patrol support (Eurocopter A-Star helicopters), surveillance (Cessna 210's), and transportation (King Air B200). I do have some overnight trips now, but not many, maybe 6 RON's a year. And now, I have a new Plan B for when I retire from the Dept (in a year or two) ..... I will likely give being a sim instructor for a big Part 142 outfit a try; and maybe do a little contract flying on the side, too.

So if you have the personality for it, being a cop is a great Plan B. But I also think that it is important for all young folks to have some sort of Plan B in case their first choice of career does not work out, whatever that Plan B might be. Figure it out, and make a contingency plan. Pilots, even younger ones, do lose their medicals from time to time, without warning..... so it might be wise to pick a Plan B and keep it in your back pocket in case it is ever needed.