I know guys who have lived in a van (not an RV... a van) in the vicinity of the airport while on reserve, and others who had hot-reserve LIVE (yes sleep and eat too) at the airport for 3 days, then commute to their parents house for 1 night of sleep in their "own" bed, because with all the debt, they couldnt even afford a stupid crashpad on their pay.. and their parents didnt necessarily have a money tree, either.

Once you could say, but it's only temporary at the regionals, a stepping stone to better pay. Not anymore. Regionals are a career path now for the unfortunate ones who don't want to move to the majors, or don't have the luck. Because that's what it is... luck and nothing more.