Foxy and brianb,

I appreciate the hippie sentiment. I really do. I get where you guys are coming from but most jobs are just that... jobs. The guy who picks up your trash does not do it for the 5:00AM sunrise. The people who plumbed your house are not there because they dreamed of it as kids.

Job Definition: A regular activity performed in exchange for payment, especially as one's trade, occupation, or profession.

People work for money not because of soul searching. We need money to support what does mean more to us, our families and lives. Flying is just a job and that is all. If you truly love to fly then you should not do it as a career since it eventually will suck the life out of it. Good and positive feelings about aviation will be replaced with bad ones. The magic of flight will be exchanged with the nine leg daily grind.

Young single people get into aviation with similar naive attitudes only to learn later as adults that they wish they had made a different choice. Your attitudes are self serving, self centered, unoriginal, childish and naive. Some people put their art into their work (single people) other it into their life (everyone else). I became a pilot because I thought it would pay more than a mailman and that I could have more time off to be with the family. I wanted to build a high quality life on top of a good paying solid career.

I am a pilot. I work at a factory called an airline where I manufacture approaches and landings all day long. I do it because I am good at it and have the ability to sit through endless hours of mindless rote memorization and repetition. The result of my efforts is a paycheck that I can take home to the wife and kids.

Wealth means choices. Wealth means family. Wealth means having the ability to help yourself and others. People who are wealthy live longer, have better lives and live with much less stress. They have more control over themselves and their situation. My joy is at home and with the life I have created.

I know that in time you both will begin to understand what it is that I am talking about. Foxy possibly already does since she clearly has the money to complete her training but has not yet pulled the plug on her IT career. Something is holding her back and that thing is called an internal instinct for self preservation. Work to live. Don't live to work.

Currently my wife and I own small businesses that we work from home. We live on a small grass fed beef ranch and our five (soon to be six) kids are all home schooled. I totally get the hippie thing but I am telling you that you are missing the boat. Flying is just a job. People like you are ruining aviation as a place to make a living.

You guys talk like hippies but are missing the point. Your positions are shallow, childish and self centered. A bunch of idealistic ill placed fantasy but that is OK. We do have a lot in common and you both are welcome at my home anytime. I really enjoy the debate.

Skyhigh

P.S. My aunt is from the bay area and holds similar attitudes as you guys. You are not from SFO by any chance are you?