Sky says:
In college our professors were ex-airline guys. None of them spoke fondly about their years as an airline pilot. They always liked to talk about their glory days in the military or jobs they had prior to reaching the airlines. One profession in particular use to say that "getting there wasn't half the fun it was all the fun". In other words, don't expect to enjoy your time as an airline pilot. It is a job.
In over 20 years of being around military - then airline pilots - I have a different opinion. I know of only ONE airline pilot to switch careers and he recently moved to CBP; which I think is a great move and staying in aviation.
At the same time - I've never met a military pilot who enjoyed the airline flying as much as their military flying (the road getting there); but NONE of them hate their jobs the way Sky describes everyone he knows as hating the job.
Invest into your future. Pick a career that offers you some stability and market value when you are older. Your chosen profession should also permit you to have access to a normal life. What is the point of all this if you can not save money, buy real estate and hopefully raise a family if that is what you want? Aviation use to be able to commonly provide those things but, I don't see that as an reachable goal anymore for most.
Again - all the people I know in the airline business have been able to save money, buy real estate, and have normal lives (at least their definitions of normal lives; but then again these people have come from military backgrounds). Currently - the two squadron mates that are furloughed from CAL are looking to go back. I guess it works out for some and not for others. Sounds like LIFE.
USMCFLYR