Original Message

I am in a very similar situation as you.  Dual rated, could have gone to the airlines in the late 80's but they were not hiring and starting pay back then was $1100/month.  26 years in EMS now make 118k base, net worth about 1.2mil.  Good friend just retired from United after 30 years. He took a Covid package deal. He is 58, owns 2 homes, an airplane and doesnt have to worry about $$.  For what its worth, he was miserabe in his job the past 10 years or so.

Yeah, I had several opportunities to go 121, however I'm fairly happy with my financial situation and have been very happy for the most part doing this job for the past 26 years. Especially going home after every shift.

It all comes down to choices and quality of life.  The grass isn't alway greener, even though the money sometimes is....