It might be keeping me from an airline career but holding me to what is most precious in life. If you wish to live alone in a strange and lifeless place then why don't you move to Baltimore?

SkyHigh

 

Ive been to Baltimore and it's not any worse than rainy, depressing Seattle.

 

To someone who is from Baltimore I am sure that it is great. My home is in the Pacific Northwest. The people and places I value are there as well.

Many people throw away a lot of what I feel makes life worth living in pursuit of a flying career. Perhaps it is worth it to them. It isn't worth it to me to trade all that I have for a 20 year old jet, 60K per year and a two bedroom apartment in Baltimore, Newark or Los Angeles. Yuk...

SkyHigh

 

Everybody is unique and has a different definition on what we cherish in our life. I find it interesting that everbody has a different take on life. Some people always like being on the move, while their are some people who never like to leave their small town.

 

True enough. I have never been interested in leaving the pacific northwest for any reason. I love flying but cherish my home, friends and family more. Over the years I have lived in many other places to advance my career however each time it was with the goal of returning home.

If I were to accept a position with a company that would force me to permanently move then it would not be acceptable to me. It is one of my highest beliefs that in order to build a full and accomplished life one needs to put down roots while still young enough to grow something of value.

I have no interest in jobs that either will not help me advance towards a position with Alaska Airlines or does not at least have a base in the Pacific Northwest.


SkyHigh

 

Since we now know why you are not flying professionally anymore, can you give the airline pilot career "bashing career" a break?
As a military guy who moved around a bit, or a businessman like my Dad, I have a lot of roots. Not in the geography though. In the family and friends.
It is transportable.

 

Good point Salty. Life is about choices, be comfortable once you make one and move ahead. Roots are transportable if you are used to it. I always remind myself that I could have been born in a Third World country and didn't have all these hard choices to pick from in regards to life.

 

Most people that I know enjoy moving away from the place they were born to start a new life. I would hate the idea of living in one place my whole life. I enjoy living in new places and meeting new people. Growing up in a small town I got tired of being around the same thing day in and day out.

 

Sky -

As someone who was born, grew up, went to college, and lived in Seattle for 22 years, I certainly sympathize with your interest in staying in the PNW.

The greatest thing to happen in my life, though, was joining the USAF and being FORCED to leave the Puget Sound area. If that hadn't happened, I seriously never would have left. I loved the place like you do.

The Air Force plunked me down in some areas of the country (and the world) that I never would have otherwise been to. It also allowed me to see what living in those other areas of the country were like.

Guess what -- I realized that although the PNW is a great spot, it's not the end-all, be-all of places to live. Yes, it's beautiful, and all the things I loved about it when I lived there I still love today. But, the fact is that there are some things about that place that really stink in comparison to other places I've lived in the US. Of course, I'd never have known that if I stayed there my whole life and didn't experience the rest of the US (and world).

I may end up back there when my military career is over, but I may not. Like you, I entertain thoughts of working for Alaska someday among the many visions of my future I have.

I guess my point is that it's funny that you're so hard-over-rudder on not leaving the PNW, as that's the one thing that is most significantly holding up your dream of returning to flying professionally.

I used to be that way about the area, too...but today I feel much less ignorant.

 

I have lived in many places all over the west coast and Alaska. From LA to the Alaskan bush. Twelve moves in 16 years. At some point it was time to go home. At 36 and with my career in the dumpster I didn't have another decade to waste on yet another roll of the dice. My family and I were tired of moving every few years. We needed to go home, dig in and earn some real money.

I reached a point where the risk wasn't worth the sacrifice anymore. The prospective gain wasn't worth it either. Flying is great but is simply wasn't worth wasting anymore days on reserve in a strange town, facing another furlough or spending another 8 years in the right seat. By my age (36) I should have been established with a career destination airline.

I knew that by being laid off prior to upgrade that my career was over. I did not have enough years left to waste and by the time the industry started hiring again I would be too old to care anymore. It is one of my deepest held beliefs that one must invest themselves in a community in order to reap the benefits of home ownership and life advancement.

Moving every few years costs a huge amount money and robs you of gaining ground on paying off your home, cars and reaching the point where you can start to finally save money and afford your wife and kids. What good is it to reach the left seat of a 737 at 55? On reserve, on the move and in the right seat for most of your career. No thanks, not interested.

Skyhigh