A few posts ago, somebody stated that we should ask who's happy and who's not happy prefaced by the question of who a person flies for. I think a better question would be to ask who is married and who has a family, then ask the question of whether that person is happy or not. I think it's hard for people with significant others and/or kids to be happy in this industry due to its volatility (not to mention the working schedules). Stability in work life reduces stress which translates to reduced stress in the home life. Being in the military (former civilian), I am reminded every day that the folks going through flight training around me who are married are going through a much more difficult version of training than I am. It's tough to juggle a family and work. Of course, the flip side of that is that you have your own personal support team waiting for you at home every evening.
For the single people, nobody is keeping you in this industry. I'll take your seat when I go on reserve status if you don't want it.
I think there is something to be said for the joy of flying. To me there's nothing better than being at the controls of an eager machine, taking off into the crap, and breaking out of the soup high above rush hour traffic. There's that rush and sensation of speed as you plow through the clouds. There are the infinitely beautiful sunrises and sunsets seen from the best seat in the house. You fly over mega-cities in the east, farms in the midwest, and high mountain peaks in the west. In a way, pilots are the luckiest group of people on the planet. Maybe industry volatility, schedules, and management are just a penance we must pay for a life we love.
Just my .00000000002.
Skyward80
For the single people, nobody is keeping you in this industry. I'll take your seat when I go on reserve status if you don't want it.
I think there is something to be said for the joy of flying. To me there's nothing better than being at the controls of an eager machine, taking off into the crap, and breaking out of the soup high above rush hour traffic. There's that rush and sensation of speed as you plow through the clouds. There are the infinitely beautiful sunrises and sunsets seen from the best seat in the house. You fly over mega-cities in the east, farms in the midwest, and high mountain peaks in the west. In a way, pilots are the luckiest group of people on the planet. Maybe industry volatility, schedules, and management are just a penance we must pay for a life we love.
Just my .00000000002.
Skyward80