ATC is pretty damn awesome just from my limited involvement in it. However, it's a total crap shoot to get on with the FAA. Even if you do military ATC, you're guaranteed nothing, not even a shot at it. So I wouldn't recommend that be a main career "focus" per say. That being said, some of the ramp towers that do Ramp Control as well as operations(assigning common use) pay very well and can get you up to 6 figures with OT. Most fun I've ever had short of flying, plus nothing is ever your fault.
As far as flying jobs go, find another source of income and a job nearby and life will surely be much better. Even with all the legitimate complaints, I still think airline pilots have it better than most in the big picture of things with pay and domicile displacement being the only 2 big negatives that ultimately made me decide not to put all my eggs in one basket. However, if you have another steady income, the first few years of poor pay won't be so bad, and if crap hits the fan and you're facing a crazy commute you have no intentions to take, you can always just leave and find another flying job since you don't "depend" on the job, you just do it because you love it.
Easier said than done I know, but pilots are usually very sharp and determined people who work hard to achieve goals and adapt well to change. Chances are, you could figure something out. Just be sure to network outside aviation(or outside of flying anyway), empower people beneath you, and find out the passions, goals, dreams, and resources of your friends and see how you can put them togeather. If you want to be an airline pilot, be an airline pilot. Period. But be smart about it.
