I worked on airplanes. High responsibility. High stress. Low appreciation from customers. Usually high cost of living areas. Mandatory 12 hour days when the schedule stacks up. And for all that, $35/hr. It seems like great money until $1500/mo rent, insurance, and all the other problems of living in the Northeast.

It wasn't worth it. Mistakes can cost lives, mistakes can cost freedom, and when the job goes over flat rate, "why aren't you done?"

I cashed out my 401k and moved my family to the woods. Got a place for $500/mo and made a new plan. Struggled the first 5 years but now we're on track