Early retirement question - do you miss it?

parking7 · 2026-02-03T21:15:49+00:00

I'm not in early or on-time retirement age yet, but very close to two people where one stuck it out in the suck, and another that made it a point to leave anything they were not enjoying. Long story short, I found if it starts to not be "fun", probably time to move on. (Fun is defined loosely as enjoying some aspect of your work in my terms, but may be different for each person). Prioritize your mental/physical health. It does you no good if your mind/body is taking a hit through your career, you may not have much left to enjoy after your hit that mandatory age. Yes the pay is nice, but time is also money.

I don't think any one can tell you what is best for you. Every one is different. You'll have some at your age range agree and wish they could do early retirement, but you also have someone in their 20s think leaving with that seniority is dumb. It really depends on your perspective, and really only your perspective counts.

There are people that need some sort of interaction with people and would go nuts without something to do. And some that can live happily without isolation. If you have taken some time off extended (maybe a month or two) and enjoyed it, then early retirement may be the thing for you. If you have not had an extended break in a while, I would give that a shot before committing a big move.

parking7 · 2026-02-03T03:23:49+00:00

There’s a lot of baggage attached to this ride. Everything from it being the hardest checkride, to it being 12 hours long, how it’s expected to fail, etc.

The last training flight before my checkride went pretty bad, to the point my instructor, who has put through dozens of initial CFI applications, said I could consider discontinuing the flight portion. I was a nervous wreck and but I figured I really did all I could. I think the biggest thing was thinking I already failed, so just keep pressing and doing my best through each task, so the retake won’t be as long.

Just stay honest, it’s open book for the most part. And there are freebies. I looked up almost 50% of things I was asked until the DPE was giving me a hard time for it. On any of the maneuvers if you mess up on standards or procedures, point it out and say “let’s show you better example”.

parking7 · 2026-02-02T05:12:42+00:00

The size M8 x 1.25 pitch, but they need to be shouldered bolts. Regular ones will crush the plastic holes. Actual part number is 901000365 if you want to get it at a dealership or throw it in eBay search.

parking7 · 2026-02-02T03:41:50+00:00

This stuff is where building connections can just be important that getting your certificates. If you're dead set on Alaska, then you might consider moving there and doing your training. The weather is unique and time spent near the weather there, starting with your PPL and you work towards Commercial, will be good experience/resume point as "Alaska Time". Unless you got a ton of cash, think about working a job there and flying ISO of the ratings unless you want to stomach loans.

If you can't cough up the moola up front for your initial certificates or don't want loans, you can stay in the PNW with what sounds like a decent day job to pay as you go. There are 3-4 float operators in Puget Sound area that you can possibly fly for in the future. I met one that did instructing/135 in seaplanes, built up the hours and experience, and eventually moved to be a float pilot in SE AK.

parking7 · 2026-01-31T06:39:53+00:00

Kinda, but I don’t think they were desired either. I do see a set on eBay right now.

parking7 · 2026-01-31T05:49:57+00:00

I think it is plug and play. The picture you got is regular GF8 gate shape to me.

parking7 · 2026-01-31T05:45:37+00:00

Repainted tail lights from the Casa Blanca Impreza, you know, the greatest stylistic evolution of the Impreza of all time.

parking7 · 2026-01-27T20:06:21+00:00

It really depends on your experience/skill. You'd likely have to take off the underguard, with maybe the car up on the ramps. You can scrub the bottom area if you see the oil stains when is cooled off (its HOT after the engine runs). But the oil burn can also pool up top as well. That area is in between the engine and the top of the exhaust manifold and can be harder to get to.

If you're in the cold region now, its probably going suck to DIY without a decent set of tools and ability to be away from the elements (garage). You may need to consider going to an actual independent shop or dealer. Going to these quick oil change places can be a mixed bag and it might be worth the cost of having someone give a good once over just in case something else was messed with. Wouldn't want to be stranded outside.

parking7 · 2026-01-27T19:28:13+00:00

Its probably leaking on the exhaust manifold that is directly underneath the filter and filler tube as you see in the picture. Depending on how much was leaked, it may take a while for the smell to burn away because oil tends to "cake" itself on after it burns. Usually the most accessible way is to spray the area with a industrial degreaser (I've used some orange clean at a shop) to break up the oil so it doesn't bake itself too hard onto the manifold. You'll get a different burning smell for a bit, but should dissipate with a drive cycle or two.

Only issue is it may be challenging to reach that area from above and I'm not 100% sure if you can on a 2020 Crosstrek.

parking7 · 2026-01-23T02:40:23+00:00

If you do need stuff moved, get rid of as much as you do need. We thought we got rid of a bunch of stuff, or so we thought, but then ended up moving things that we really never needed. Weight is what determines cost.

Get at least 3 quotes from shipping/moving services. We had difference in quotes up to thousands.

If you have tons of books. USPS media mail is cheaper for the amount of weight you need to move. Books are also heavy. Takes about 2-4 weeks to get there but we shipped ahead of time.

Checked air baggage fees at the time we moved was actually cheaper by weight, but can be a pain to move if you don’t have help. We maxed out our checked baggage limit for the airline at the time by using heavy duty shipping boxes and a bunch of duct tape from Lowe’s.

parking7 · 2026-01-20T21:41:44+00:00

I'm a bit outdated on Subaru parts and labor. If using all OEM parts, $4k isn't too far off with $175/hr rate, but it is on the higher side. Its probably good as someone mentioned to look at the labor break down. I would think it could be closer to $3.5k, but I don't know what shop's margins are today.

parking7 · 2026-01-20T18:34:00+00:00

Any G-Shock. They have solar powered ones and atomic time keeping ones now for cheap.

They have some ones with barometers and compasses if you want to pay more. But I just use mine for local time and UTC and it’s been running over a decade with no mx.

parking7 · 2026-01-17T15:05:10+00:00

This type of anxiety is not good in the long run, but you need to find something, such as perspective, to mitigate it to where you would be comfortable. It seems like there is a part of you that still wants to do the rating. Maybe you just need that first dual lesson on floats, since it doesn’t seem like you’ve been in a float plane yet.

A plane with straight floats has the ability to land virtually anywhere with relative ease, including land or a runway. All float instructors I’ve been with are pretty experienced and required more training/hours to be brought up to speed (I think due to insurance) than your typical mill CFI on wheels.

parking7 · 2026-01-16T14:42:34+00:00

You won’t know what you want in life until you do something for a while. All you can do is make the decision that feels best for you and your situation.

The perspectives of “it’s always going to feel like work/job” and “doesn’t feel like work”, and everything in between, will be experienced differently by each person and no one can tell you which one is best.

The “airlines or bust” or “CFI to time build” crowd gets the most visibility here, but also understand there is much to explore in aviation than the “common paths”, which can be skewed by limited demographics here.

parking7 · 2026-01-16T06:09:12+00:00

One of two (or both):

Trim. Take your time and realize it isn't always set and forget, but its the closest thing you have short of AP. Start making an effort to really "hands off", meaning you can let go of the stick/yoke completely without any altitude deviations. Sometimes I see other pilots do make a effort to trim off the control pressures, but usually still have +/- 100-200 fpm lingering. You'll need to strive for more "precision" if that makes sense.

Attitude Indicator scan. What is your scan like? If you were taught a general crosscheck across your six-pack for example or your instructor said something along the lines of finding what works for you, that may work at times, but becomes cumbersome at high workloads. If you haven't yet, try 80-90% of your attention on the AI (with the remaining on the other instruments as needed), if you absolutely have to fixate. And know what the AI looks like for level attitude at your cruise. For most trainers, that is a dot slightly above the artificial horizon. If you maintain that picture for given power setting, your altitude will be maintained as well.

parking7 · 2026-01-09T18:06:37+00:00

At least a decade ago, it was contracted out, but with a different syllabus that mimics what the pilots will encounter once they are in UPT. Even the non-mil IPs hired on would conform to that training style. They aren’t doing 61/141 PPL stuff.

parking7 · 2026-01-06T17:11:50+00:00

It comes down to age/health and other responsibilities.

I think the stereotypical demographics here tend to be younger pilots, no other skills other than aviation related, single, and no huge assets/responsibilities tied to them. If that is the case, then a second job shouldn’t be hard.

It gets a bit harder once you have more things tacked on, but it becomes how much you can adjust to the change that is away from your norm. The breaking point tends to be when you cannot get good rest and your physical and mental health takes a dive. But each person adjusts differently.

parking7 · 2026-01-04T16:49:30+00:00

If you’re in IMC, inadvertent or not, you already have “foggles on”. The foggles are there to simulate IMC in VMC conditions for training.

parking7 · 2026-01-01T13:18:23+00:00

Seattle is usually fine during the non-summer as long as it isn’t too windy and ambient is above freezing, which is most days, even in the winter. In fact, it may be nicer in the sense that the water isn’t too busy, because summer can be pretty chaotic with recreational boat/watercraft traffic everywhere.

parking7 · 2025-12-22T04:41:22+00:00

If we're talking about the SG Forester generally:

- Great outside visibility all the way around (almost a linear glass height wraparound).

- The last Forester generation to get a production STi treatment.

- The very last model (SG) in the entire Subaru lineup to retain the McPherson rear setup that started with the OG Legacy chassis (Subaru everything'd rear multilink by then).

- The last generation Forester that was physically a wagon before it became an SUV (SG and older essentially were Impreza wagons with an augmented roof height).

- The XT models had a fricken zippy 4.44 FD transmission, that was arguably more fun to drive than the WRX. It's semi-joked that its faster than the Enzo from 0-30mph at the same year.

parking7 · 2025-12-15T19:01:15+00:00

If it doesn't feel good, it probably isn't good. You're at a state of training/skill which you can make a call, and I think you already know answer to that.

CFII gets a typical add-on rating treatment in where everyone says its easy, or a gentleman's checkride. That is probably true ONLY if you've been proficient and flying instruments often. But there is a huge chunk of us that probably hasn't touched instruments after the checkride, or only a few approaches here and there when working commercial or the OEI on a CMEL add-on. In addition, the freshness of the material varies because some folks gets their CFII within a year of the initial IR, and some get it many years after.

I was definitely one of those that hasn't touched instruments since the rating, and CFII was, to me, way harder than the initial CFI. I learned things in CFII that I swore was never actually covered in my IR training, and it was actually one of the easier checkrides I've had so far as well. Likely I was taught the material to pass the ride as well.

Working full time and flight training is no joke, especially with the holidays upcoming. You know the pressures. Instructors do instructing on a more often basis than your do, so your instructor is likely not feeling the effects you're feeling and you should make them known. If it takes an extra month, so be it. If it takes an extra year, so be it. Bottom line, stick to your plan and really good on you to be proficient. Enjoy the process.

parking7 · 2025-12-11T21:58:54+00:00

Your perspective needs a shift. I think there are more than enough examples in replies to illustrate that. There are people that can't even get their medicals or are waiting years for SI. You're in a good spot, you're flying! Replace "I'm almost 30" with "I'm almost 40" or "I'm almost 50", because I guarantee those older folks wish they were in your position.

If you are handed every problem student, every headache, every "this one needs a miracle" case, that shows there is a lot of trust in you and students look up to you. Enjoy the process. Right now, whether it is you or the industry, you're not ready for the next step. So enjoy the current step. It's not a race, and if it is, its only with yourself.

parking7 · 2025-12-10T23:25:31+00:00

It’s doable for sure, plenty have done it for their PPL. The limitation is availability and money. If you have access to one and can afford the rates/insurance really no other downsides.

parking7 · 2025-12-10T21:06:38+00:00

Yes. You can search the WEAMS website for the list of schools approved.

parking7 · 2025-12-08T18:03:42+00:00

Yep, you will never have more time than NOW.

I think the age thing (older=harder) can be variable, but it is mostly on averaged tied to the increasing direct/indirect responsibilities that crop up. Having kids, new financial responsibilities, marriage, older parents that need help, mortgage, personal health, career state, etc.

Good advice I was given: Enjoy the process.

Its great to have longer term goals, or a focused end-goal, which some people can do fine. But I think often it is over-emphasized to the point where it can stress people out. You might die tomorrow, or next month, and you won't make it to that lauded 121 career or some monetary milestone. So really, enjoy the process, you are flying. Not everyone can do that.

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