You're funny, knowing nothing of me; you get to determine that I have never done anything respectable. You know like 26 years service in the Navy, Finishing top of my class from Navy Flight Training, having Squadron Command, OOD (U) on a Nuc Aircraft Carrier, Corporate pilot for a Fortune 500 company. A member of ALPA at the countries largest supplemental carrier, and being offered a job at NJ back in 99, 00, and 01. But I couldn't take the pay cut.
Back in 83 when I had lost my Corporate job to the recession, I was unemployed. CAL hired a guy from my P-3 reserve unit, he told me I should apply they were looking for Check Airman. Being unemployed, I asked my ALPA buddies what they thought. One quote I remember was, "Randy if you cross the line you will be branded as a SCAB and end up your career working for some non-sked at KYIP". Now no one wants to end their career at a non-sked at KYIP. So I did right thing and never returned the call.
However unemployment and age 53 suddenly make a non-sked job at KYIP look much better. I have worked hard to make JUS a better place to work, to give crews proper training. JUS became a major source of pilots for NJ, over the years nearly 30 pilots have left JUS for NJ, in fact 4 came back after being furloughed by NJ in 2008. To see these pilot move on to career positions is truly satisfying.
This career has been a ball and I do not have to dream of anything. I am fulfilling the child hood dream of a 5 year old who saw the P-51 buzz his house in Detroit back in 1948. I love what I do and can not wait to get up and go to work every morning.
So sorry I do not fill your definition of professional, but I am happy with my lot in life, what I have and the accomplishments in my life. Which is more than I can say about many of the posts I see here.
BTW: As posted here many times before there is an element of luck and timing in this career, that in my opinion often out weight the elements of skill and desire. Best of luck in the yet to be determined future of the Fractional Business model