I have never taken a job where I actually "worked". I have been in IT for 7 years. I started out fixing computers busting my rear for NCR for 4 years working 40-90 hour weeks (slow in the begining of the year....busy toward the end....fixed retail) then moved to software for POS company for the last year (I had a IT teaching gig for the remainder of the time). I haven't "worked" since college. I get paid to be around computers/software all day. I look at flying the same way. Sure there will be bad days....but at the end of the day I know I will go home satisfied that I am doing what I enjoy. Charms wear off. Flying is an ever climbing (pun intended) aspiration.