Nice idea Punch! I was in your boat. It took a lot of time for me to give up the dream. I had it lucky though, (my timing was impeccable) because my airline was offering voluntary furlough/leaves and I jumped on the offer. Got really lucky when I posted my non-flying resume, and got a job offer after 3 weeks of search. Now, I'm working a 6x6 ft cubicle doing contract work for the FAA (yeah, I jumped the fence and work with a lot of Inspectors) as a Safety/Operations Analyst making way more then twice my RJ FO pay. Like you, I knew no other job beside flying. However, if you're smart, got some sort of common sense, and know how to interact with real professionals, then life in corporate America is possible. I had it made, because I was working the Fed job while still holding on to my airline senority. It gave me a chance to try a normal boring job to see if I would like it. However, after 4 months of the stint, I had to officially send in my resignation letter to the airline. It was a really though choice, but it had to be done for my own sanity. My friends/family were all able to see how much more happier my life is since I'm home, stable, and paying the BILLZ with some left over. Now, my company offers tuition reimbursment if I want to get my master's or take whatever courses to advance my career path; I work a flex schedule so long as the job is done. There are tons of opportunitys out there. 90% of the folks in my office are ex-airline, furloughees, early retirement, ex-military, whatever. I'm still in the flying arena, just not physically flying. It is still a love/hate relationship at work. Some days I really MISS it, but no problems, because when the flying buzz arrives, I can afford to go rent a piston for the afternoon. I've always got the time to go back to 121 ops, but not until the industry does a 180. Now, I check out flightinfo from time to time to see what I'm not missing. Good luck on your quest....