Sky,

Make your own decisions. For me, I sure got tired of a two hour drive each way to the office, then eight to sixteen hours at work. A meal, bed, start at 05:30 the next day, stay out late with the co workers Friday, work Saturday, laundry & fix the house Sunday, then repeat. I made a lot of money and did not have time to enjoy it. I talked my employer into leasing an airplane for me & that was the only part of the job I really relaxed in and enjoyed.

Making more than $100K is pretty tough in the Corporate world. Of course it can be done, but usually a few years of service and some good luck with promotional opportunities is needed. Unlike the seniority list, it is hard to be assured that your Company will not acquire, or be acquired, or worse re-organize you, right out of the promotion you worked a decade for.

I LOVE that it is required that I get 8 hours of rest every day. In reality there are few days where there is not time for a good run, a meal with an interesting crew member, a couple of nice flights which is followed by three or four days with my family.

Different strokes for different folks. I gave up a really good gig for a $18K a year job with a regional. In a few years it was a $70K a year job and again it was necessary to take a step backwards to fly for a major. But looking back on it, the decision to pursue this avocation was a good one.