Very well said, actually so well that I quoted the entire post.

Great advice.

I had 14 properties in the DFW areas but sold all of them in 2004-05, and am very glad I did. I wish I still had them, but it was the correct decision at the time.

Debt can be a pain as we can see with the airline industry. You are not you own master, by a long shot. I have always been looking for something that my wife and I could manage together, and this one kind of took us by surprise. Out of left field if you will. After three months of doing all of the forensics on the company and the two holding companies, we are about at the point of making the decision on which way to go. We are not there yet, and at any point I am not convinced that it is a good deal, I will walk away. That is key. Never get too invested, emotionally or otherwise that you cannot walk away.

I do agree that properties that are owned outright are always a good long term hold. We have a bunch of nice land in Texas that we plan to hold until at least the day I retire.

I was once my own boss and an employer, and you are correct, it is a gift. Nothing on the scale we may take on, but I understand what you are saying. As you hint, there is more to this than just money, if is about giving back to community as well. As with many turns in life, it is not something I envisioned five years ago, but when we were presented with the opportunity it really just hit us over the head.

Either way, I have enjoyed the process.

Sadly, it highlights what a lot are thinking. Frankly DAL offers a lot that SWA cannot. I choose here for a reason. The fact is that we are all flying a lot more hours than any generation of pilot has done previously, and that will take a toll on our health. It is just smart business to diversify you income stream.

But that should change, (about flying more than any generation)
Sad day when ACL punts. I know your drive and it really speaks out if you don't have hope.
So you are saying you income stream will not come from DAL. We must be getting a ....... contract.
If Delta had any hope of getting things back in order for the pilots we need guys like you with your head up high and not thinking of a way out to make money elsewhere.
Your a smart guy, so for you to say we need to make money on the side, says alot. Guys said the same thing at the regional level. It don't want to compare DAL vs the regionals.

Hey boomer, really nice find, that was interesting stuff.

Erma Bombeck was a great writer, may she rest in peace.

............

Hey Scambo and ACL, reminds me of what my preacher was told before he got married - do you want to make interest the rest of your life or pay interest the rest of your life?

He says there is one big problem if you want to make interest the rest of your life, you can't have everything you want. You can't even have the things you can afford.

But it's better than reaching into the future to take money you haven't made yet.

Wow! Thanks for posting video. Music to my ears!

There is a difference between being a w-2 employee like we are at DAL and setting up alternate income sources. I did not read in ACLs post anything about the upcoming contract. Regardless of C-2012's outcome, responsibility for ones'self lies within himself. Some people want enough to be able to pay greens fees and their mortgage, others want more.

My point of view is that the airline is a great part time job, always has been. It doesn't currently pay enough, but for those not motivated to be in business themselves, picking up extra flying gives you extra income.

Without a pension, an airline job is just a job. Pension being the differentiator for me between a career and a job. You can walk at anytime and take your 401k with you.

If DALPA doesnt push for significant contract improvements, I would think their days are numbered. DAL pilot demographics are different than they ever have been before: Multiple furloughs, delayed career progression, huge givebacks in and before BK. Combine this with ALPA dissappointments; ALPA conflict of interest, age 65, rapid growth of outsourced flying and a host of other items; either ALPAs fault or in which ALPA as a contributing factor. (the intent is not alpa bashing).

The bottom line: You can hope for a game changing contract or you can (at least try to) take responsibility for your own economic future.