Nope not joking. I can go back to the desk job any time so the risk for me is small if the flying ever gets old. While I was flying I was able to do come contract work and supliment my FO salary. Eventually I'll either continue with the flying career at a mainline job or use my flying combined with my desk job and do a job that utilizes both skills.

Flying is in the blood. I really enjoyed it even at Mesa. The quality of life at Mesa was not nearly as good as the desk job but QoL gets better as you move through the system. If I can handle it at Mesa then I can handle it anywhere and the hope is that it will improve my career prospects in the long run.

If it gets too much for me I'll just go back to the desk job.