Good quote. In 2001 during the last downturn I was furloughed by a major and, for whatever reason, couldn't get hired by Southwest, AirTran, Vanguard, Eastwind... any of the places people were going.

So I interviewed at a couple of regionals and got the job. Why? Because unemployment wasn't enough. And because I needed to stay current while I worked to find something better -- or more accurately, sat out the downturn.

I didn't stay. It is emotionally demoralizing to be in newhire indoc with young folks who have a few hundred hours when you have 7000+ and a few type ratings. It is even more demoralizing when those people are in the left seat and talk down to you as if you were their apprentice. Some people deal with it better than others. I had a tough time with it. I did the job as best I could and left before upgrading at the regional.

Self worth is important. It's hard to feel worthy when everything you worked for in life is gone and you're starting over... again.