I really think if you are not passionate about flying, you should not do it as a career. Really. It requires sacrifices, it will take you high, low, beat you up, and give you the greatest joys. Its incredibly irregular. You have to love it to stay committed.

Its painful to have to put flying to the side because of the current economy, or just take large steps backward just to fly. And if you haven't had to do something else, you have never been furloughed, never had to work hard to get a flight job, or had lots of money to spend while waiting to fly. Its a bad career, but damn if I don't love the job.