Yup. And let me tell you, it's a damn good thing I did.
Because if I didn't, after I sunk $50K into things and was committed to seeing it through?
I'd be the son of a bitch who you'd hate to spend two seconds with in the cockpit. I'd be bitching about the pay, how the layover hotels were crap, how cheap the company was for not cleaning the planes, and so on.
When you saw that I was doing a trip with you, you'd be thinking "oh God. The guy does the job but he's got such a bad attitude about this gig. I don't want to work with him. Maybe I can get someone to trade out."
I'm very grateful to Doug for setting this site up so I could see what it was like and choose a different route.
I've been thinking a lot about this, Tony - I think you and I were in very similar boats. At the time, I think you were still in sales, right? I'm still in it, although on the tech side of the house with the account reps. I don't make quite the money the account reps do, but I don't carry their quotas either.
When you've been in a job that rewards seriously hard work with serious money, it's tough to move into a job that will pay you the same whether you do the absolute minimum or bust your butt per hour of work. I made the decision NOT to pursue aviation professionally because of the same compensation blow I would have taken. I've watched a couple of other JCers make the change later in life and seen their personal lives completely implode. One can argue that aviation wasn't the sole reason - and it never is - but the financial pressures that it can put on a relationship are daunting and it can be part of a larger problem. I've seen other couples flourish and other people get to new places in their lives with later-in-life changes like this -
@Bumblebee is a terrific example of how it can work out - although that never would have worked out in my first marriage and definitely not with the couple of temporary relationships past that one.
However...
Very recently, I've been thinking about making the change again - and it's actually my wife encouraging me to do it. I'm 40 years old now (I was 32 when I joined, 31 when I found JC) and I've been in the same line of work for more than 20 years. It has allowed me the luxury of working from home, making good money and supporting a lifestyle that we both like. She pointed out to me the other day that due to paths we took when we were younger, she has had the opportunity to pursue some dream jobs whereas I never have, and she has offered me the opportunity - if I want it - to let me make a transition into aviation, because she feels like I should get a shot at it.
This was pretty amazing to me - mostly because of the way she framed it - and it got me thinking about the 'what if.' Because I still don't think I'd go 121 flying - but there are lots of other jobs besides the airlines.
Here's my point - and I apologize for it being long-winded...several years ago, I was in the same boat as
@tonyw - but the boat (in fact, the whole damned ocean) has changed.
@mandyk - if you think this is something the two of you want - together - then you oughta do it - just do it with your eyes open.This site is a phenomenal source for knowledge.
I was going to write more and call out some particular members, but I may start another thread for that.
