No, I don't have to work the max because my wife works also. We have a "dual income" marriage. I do like making extra money now and then, but I don't really have to. I fly to INTL places because I got bored doing all domestic. There was a while there when I was going to St Thomas a lot on day turns, and ANC layovers in the Summer, but I now can do both if I want becuase our category now has both domestic and INTL flying. But, I am senior enough to bid what I want, which is great.
And you keep talking about RJs eating up the flying. Maybe you haven't noticed lately, but RJs are being parked at a huge rate. Mainline flying has recaptured a lot of that flying, which was given away by the unions initially, but then exacerbated by certain airline President's who thought businessmen wanted "frequency." That era is over, and thanks to the CAL/UAL MECs bringing up the eventual recapture of 70 seats and up for their new joint contract, even more RJ flying will go away hopefully.
It's great that you can choose EAST or WEST flying for your trips. Will you do that in 5 years? How about 10 years? Will you even care anymore? That is the sad part. There is something special about walking up to a gate and seeing that your airplane is going somewhere farther than your 1 or 2 time zones, and you are getting paid to do it. Hey, it's not your fault that you don't understand that. You are just unfamiliar with the concept of eating first class meals, taking a rest break or watching a movie in the back, and then ending up in a far away land that can be fun. You suggest Africa as a common location---yet that is done by junior pilots that have the option to bid something else, but they do not. That is their choice. Most INTL flying is great, and it beats the domesstic lifestyle by a mile. And I think you stated legacy domestic flying is worse than your domestic flying? It depends on the plane, again. Some planes are built for longer legs, and might fly 2 or 3 legs per day, mainly transcons. Some fly multiple legs. Your planes do both, but not one or the other. You may fly a long leg from BWI to SLC, where most pilots would get off if based there after the 5 hour flight. Your plane continues onto LAS, then SJC. It's called very productive trips, but exhausting. Many pilots flew exhausted in the Regionals, and now want less frequency in their legs, and longer legs at that. Southwest probably can't guarantee that.
Again, it is apples to oranges when comparing our flying----you just can't compare it. Now, payscales, they will come and go, but airline products and game plans just won't change. You fly for a domestic LCC, and I fly for a Worldwide Legacy. Apples to oranges. And BTW, Volaris may do well in Mexico thanks to Mexicana going away. That means they may become a stronger partner of yours, and maybe handle almost all of your future Mexico flights. They aren't as weak as you may think thanks to Mexicana leaving the picture.
Bye Bye---General Lee