What does "loving it" mean, exactly?

It seems to me that there are a LOT of pilots who have spent a full career working for the major airlines (that cosmoKramer describes as his dream job in the initial post)...who are bitter and cynical...and who make a lot of money.

What gives you satisfaction as a pilot? For a while, it is the allure of the bigger shinier airplane. Trade up from the 152 that you trained in, and the 182 seems like a ton of fun...for a while. Trade that up to a seminole and it once again seems awesome for a while until you start yearning for something bigger and better. The baron or king air that you get to fly while "time building" seems to be awesome until you again get the itch for something bigger and faster. Thus the baron becomes an RJ, which will eventually turn into a narrowbody, and finally a widebody.

What happens then?

Payscales follow a similar scale. It is human nature so yearn for the next big raise, and then upon getting it, to want the next bigger one. Read the major forums on this site and you will of read pilots wanting more.

Talk to just about anyone in eany industry and they will tell you that they are underpaid, and that <fill in the bank> other profession has things so much better.

While i'm not denying that the QOL of a regional FO or flight instructor has a lot to be desired I'm just saying that every pilot (or any career for that matter) must define for themselves what "loving it" means FOR THEM?

If salary and QOL is more important to you than flying, and you have a better chance of getting what you want (salary and QOL) outside aviation...then the choise seems clear to me.