It is a sad post you have there.
In the hopes of cheering you up, you have lead a good life. Flying the bush in the cold north, is quite a life. They make movies about those bush pilots. Besides, I bet if you look at the lives of your buddies, you will see ones with their own share of mediocrity and regret. I doubt you are the type of man that defines himself strictly by the job he does. All that work and the sacrifce has taught you that if one has a dream (allbeit misguided, looking back) one can accomplish anything in this life. Knowing that, is a powerful thing - especially to teach that to your children, and knowing it to be personally true.
My .02 cents,
-Aloha