RichardRambone said:
I realize that you regional guys pretty much have 15-16 days of work each month. What do u spend those off days doing? Commuting, side job, what?
HAAAHAHAHAHAHA!! That's a good one. Oh wait, you're serious? Richard, the average days off at my company are closer to 12-13. Then, if they want they can require you to go to training on days off. So once a year plan on a 9-10 day off month (twice a year if you're a Captain).
Dude, 15 days off a month is possible, but it sounds like a lot more than it is. Personally, I do laundry (or watch my wife do it), carry my baby around for as long as my spine can handle it, repair the dog run so that my ninja/lab mix can no longer escape (seriously, I do this nearly every week, I'm optimistic this time, though. I dug a 25' deep hole and threw her in, I'll keep you posted...), go grocery shopping, mow the lawn, go to church, then pack for my next trip. Personally, I never have time (or money) enough to do many of the things I need to do, much less the stuff I want to do. Don't get me wrong, I love my life, wouldn't trade it for anything, but it cracks me up when people try to tell me how lucky I am to have so much time off. I had much more time when I was a CFI (no 4-day trips).
If you don't have a house, spouse, child, or pet, you'd probably have enough time off to sit around, watch tv, hit the gym, golf, play X-box and chase tail. I don't know too many that take extra jobs, or travel much during regular days off.