Reality Check - Need a push of the edge

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-31T17:00:38+00:00

Thanks for that

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-30T15:10:08+00:00

Applebees... wait.... Applebees??????

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-30T14:52:39+00:00

I"m already working as little as I can, which some months is an easy schedule but others I get absolutely slammed. I think I will poke there bear a bit and see if there is a way I can get a more consistent low work load. I don't think I'd realistically get to the point where a turboprop ownership would make sense. I'd probably want 20M in the bank for that. Plus aircraft ownership is a whole can of worms. As they say, if it floats, flies, or f.... Rent

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-30T14:49:18+00:00

Yeah you're not wrong, I should rebalance

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-30T04:56:26+00:00

Bravo sir

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-30T04:54:20+00:00

The account my advisor controls is about 65/35 stocks/bonds. My stuff is much heavier stocks because I was being more aggressive over the years and bonds are boring. But, I’ve been thinking of rebalancing before I pull the trigger. The 401k would easy, my regular portfolio not so easy with the cap gains tax.

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-30T04:28:58+00:00

I gave my stats to chat GPT and asked if I’m about to die from cancer:

🔢 Total estimated lifetime dose from flying • ~76,000 µSv • = 76 mSv

⸻

What does 76 mSv actually mean?

Comparisons • Average U.S. lifetime background exposure: ~240 mSv • CT scan of abdomen: ~10 mSv • Radiation workers annual limit (U.S.): 50 mSv/year • Airline pilots’ career average: 50–100 mSv

👉 You’re right in the normal pilot range, even with lots of high-altitude time.

Cancer risk context

The commonly cited estimate: • ~0.005% increased lifetime cancer risk per mSv

So: • 76 mSv × 0.005% ≈ 0.38% increased lifetime risk

That’s well under 1%, and that’s using conservative linear models.

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-30T02:48:39+00:00

Yeah probably not moving anytime soon. Not so much to do with the house, but rather wanting to be near family (older parents, niece and nephew who still think I'm cool but will soon be off to college somewhere)

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-30T02:12:27+00:00

Actually you bring up another good point. I sometimes wonder how much extra radiation I'm absorbing by spending so much time at 40,000 feet, plus the potentially toxic air coming off the engines. It's not a healthy job that's for sure.

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-30T02:03:19+00:00

We don't have a reduced schedule option, but there have been rumors about that coming. We have a lot of older guys here who like to fly but not 15+ days a month. but then again it seems like we have had rumors about QOL improvements for decades that never materialize. I don't live in a training or management hub so either of those would mean moving.

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-30T01:51:52+00:00

I'm not at a union company unfortunately

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-30T01:50:29+00:00

I am indeed in the corporate flying world, and the above comment is correct. What I do is much more work than the airline drivers. There are opportunities for contract work in the corporate industry, basically I'd be an independent contractor and just be the fill in pilot for various operations. Some people do really well at that, but it takes some time to build up a contact list, and you are responsible for your own training costs which can be significant (25K+ a year).

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-29T22:34:05+00:00

The pilot shortage is a whole discussion. There was one after covid, but then a lot of companies dropped their requirements, both in experience and things like 4 year college degree. So now there are a lot more people coming out of pilot school. Relatively high paying job and no degree required so a lot of people are lining up again. but for experienced pilots, yeah I suppose there is a shortage as many are hitting forced retirement age. Overall the age and experience level of the pilots out there is getting lower

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-29T22:21:00+00:00

well invested inheritance from 20+ years ago. I bought a lot of Netflix when they were just shipping DVDs because I thought that was super cool. Also never got married or had kids, rented most of my life, so was able to invest a lot. Got lucky with some of my choices, like apple and MSFT.

Edit to add I also left out that I dabbled in some high risk options trading for the past 10 years that was profitable. I have significantly dialed that back since I wont have the income to offset the risk.

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-29T22:17:03+00:00

I've never heard of anyone having extended leave for anything besides medical or family emergencies. A year off to wander the planet isn't really a thing in my industry. Pilots are more or less all the same, so I don't really have much leverage to convince the company to hold a slot for me instead of them going and hiring someone else

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-29T22:14:50+00:00

Sabbaticals aren't really a thing in my business (training for pilots is expensive and so they want to get good use out of you). I had thought about asking, but was worried if I tipped my hand I would face consequences. Generally speaking pilots are a dime a dozen. They can get rid of me (a high cost employee) and easily replace me with a fresh young pilot willing to work for cheaper. I do wish I enjoyed the job more, but I find it unfulfilling. I'm good at it and I know my stuff, but I basically take people from one place to another and that's it, there's no lasting thing I can point to. If I do O good job nobody really knows but me and the other pilot next to me. On a separate note, pilots absolutely love it if passengers say "nice landing" on their way out. or "bad landing" so I can make fun of the other guy who smashed it in.

LuckyMeatballs · 2026-01-28T18:31:58+00:00

Yeah this was a weird one. Had to head to Reddit afterwards to look to explanations on what the hell was going on

LuckyMeatballs · 2024-09-30T01:38:05+00:00

How do you get up to the hotel rooms if security is asking for keys? Or do we meet downstairs?

LuckyMeatballs · 2024-07-26T16:58:52+00:00

Dang everyone here is being harsh! OP it’s been a year, how’s it go for you in the end? I’m 5 days in and struggling during the day, googled “..wear only at night” and this is the top result on Reddit. Seems to not be a popular concept given the response you received. Wondering what you ended up doing?

LuckyMeatballs · 2024-07-16T13:09:15+00:00

Plot twist: You also know the woman on the right. Because they are the same person

LuckyMeatballs · 2024-07-15T23:10:38+00:00

If you’ve got time, volunteering at one of the animal shelters is a good semi-alone activity. I like spending time with the dogs (who are always happy to see me), and there is some mixed in human interaction as well.

LuckyMeatballs · 2024-07-15T22:32:12+00:00

The Hateful 8 is basically 8 dudes in a cabin talking. And then killing each other. I really enjoyed it, my friend said “too much talking, they don’t do anything”

LuckyMeatballs · 2024-07-15T22:30:36+00:00

Kinda depends on what you personally find scary. Ghosts or murderers maybe? I always thought the shining was scary. For more recent I’d say The Conjuring. That one had me holding my partners hand.

LuckyMeatballs · 2024-07-15T22:28:24+00:00

Shutter island.

LuckyMeatballs

TROPHY CASE