as long as you can keep in a cockpit i think you'll be doing pretty good. I got out of the flying biz a year and a half ago. Coming from a regional airline, the financial improvements and stability are mindblowing. I had been at the regional nearly three years when i left, dividing it up, the first 1.5 years was great, and the last 1.5 years sucked...I had a quick initial reserve, jumped up the senority fast, upgraded to CA in 14 Mos. spent 10 Months on captain reserve before getting the inevitable downgrade, watched my senority flow the opposite way, ended up holding one of the bottom lines and commuting as an FO, suddenly life sucked.

The new gig, federal employee, retirement, 5% 401K matching, sick time, vacation time, and no one to tell you that you can't take it, paid holidays, home everynight (unless i don't want to be), pay raise, and future raises, job security, advancement oppurtunities, free education, (the list goes on and on and on) the downfall, i'm not in a cockpit anymore and i miss it everyday. A co-worker/ex airline co-worker as well did the smart thing, bought himself a C-172 and started a small flight instruction business...He keeps a couple students himself, hired a full time flight instructor to take the rest, and the airplane is paying for not only itself and the hanger as well, but making extra $$ on the side for the owner....Now that's a smart go-getter!!! You mgiht be able to make something like that work too...good luck, we're all counting on you!