UConn,
Your are a smart guy, taking the 50k job does not mean giving up flying. You have read about how the airline industry sucks, unless you are lucky to be at SWA, UPS or FedEX. The industry, has always had it its ups and downs. Now is not a great time to be starting out, or even a senior pilot at any of the Majors, but that will change. It may not ever be the great job that it was, in the late 60s or even the 70s, but it will be a honest living. Just keep flying and be ready, if things look better in the next 5 years then go for it. Also, the Angle Flight Idea above is great, I was a Medevac Pilot in the Army, and it was the best job. You get a great feeling by helping someone in there time of need. Good Luck in all that you do.