Well as some of you know i despiratley want to become an airline pilot. This weekend although i was in my cousins wedding. Having fun at the reception last night. Everyone drinking, (Getting a little drunk)
. And talking with a bunch of chicks with my cousins. Then today we had the gift opening. just a few hours ago we were all talking in the backyard about the honeymoon.
Anyways im just thinking to myself. When i whant to get married, I whant to be able to see my wife. You know? Well enough of that stuff to my question. As a pilot do relationships work out as well? Or do they turn out the same? Or worse where you end up getting a devorce? Let me know from your expirences or what you think! thanks!!
Here's the deal "future pilot":
I have a good handful of experience with screwed up relationships, but not the energy left to type it all out. All I can tell you is that there are a lot of ways to make each other unhappy. Being miserable because the jobhunt does not work out leaves a skidmark on your relationship.
It's imperative for your SO or spouse to know what is on your plate.
In the end, when your medical is denied - or your career stops because of an accident, incident or violation, you may want to come home to someone who can tell you something different from "I told ya!"
I may type more on this subject if you care - but don't fret it. If you are young enough to experience the downfalls of this industry before it is "time" to have kids and focus on family, you are golden. It hurts a lot figuring this out late in life, because it can really mess life up.
It's the same for
every job that requires commitment and patience. If I wanted to be working in a factory and be home every night, I would apply in the factory. I still want to be home at night and watch my future children grow up. I'm old, so I stay away from the section of the industry that has the highest potential for screwing my life up. 60 years from now, nobody will remember what sort of a pilot I was. People will judge me based on what I did and "who" I was to the people loving me. Maybe my Grandson or Daughter remembers me for having taught him/her how to fly - but thats about how far you can reach, flyingwise. Yeah I could strap myself to a Pitts and cross the Pacific inverted or constantly rolling... but that gets boring after 21 hours and when running out of fuel...
Sounds terribly shallow, I know - but thats just about how it feels when you loose friends, wife, hubby or SO's for a thrill that exists in
YOUR head only, or maybe on pictures or in a video, once the wheels are back on the ground.
Being a Dad, Mom, or Grandpa flies way higher, if you ask pilots with kids.
Suddenly it sucks to go flying. I have had a good career, made a bunch of money and now I'm flying. But after 20 years, flying will not again get position # 1 on my priority list. Do I regret anything? NOPE!
But I don't have to regret what I did to not do it again. Best mixture is a flying couple pushing each other along the way. Nonflyers put up with us, but they may never truly understand our heart and desire. Don't change each other, don't seek fault in your partner. Sweep in front of your own doorstep first and you'll be fine 85% of the time. That holds true of nonflying couples first. Aviation does not literally destroy relationships. It's us letting it happen.
