Career #1 to career #2 transition

During the latter portion of my first career, one long term goal was to transition to a semi-retired/part-time job in aviation.  I never envisioned working until a certain age only to retire and not work ever again.  Doing something paid within aviation, even if it only paid the grocery bill, became a goal.  I thought it would be a fantastic way to earn (a little!) money and do something in an area that I truly love.  My first choice for an aviation based career #2 was pretty much any type of paid flying. At times though, the thought of driving the fuel truck at a local airport would have been a great change of pace.  Not that career #1 wasn’t enjoyable but there’s just something about being at the airport.  It has become my happy place.  The people, the aircraft, my hangar, my airplane all combine to satisfy a basic need.  It’s like the proverbial kid at the airport fence dreaming of flight except now this big kid has the gate code and an airplane in one of those hangars.  I wish everyone could have this type of experience in their life, this type of happy place where everything is reset and all is right in the world. 

I have more than just an aircraft at my local airport.  I have a community, an extended family who would do anything for me.  I have a magic carpet that can transport me physically, mentally, and emotionally to a different physical location as well as a better state of mind.  And now, I have that long sought after career #2 job.  I get paid fly!

I am expanding my flying experience quite a bit as there are several aspects of the job which are new and challenging.  At the same time, I'm able to incorporate my previous flying and aircraft ownership experience plus a bit of career #1 into the equation.  I look forward to this new chapter and hopefully having the time to post about it here.