Decision time now.

[crashresidue]

Cheers people,

I'll post this here because I feel "at home" with you.

I got a call and an e-mail tonight from "Blackwater".

They are offering me a job either flying in Iraq or doing "deep water re-suply" - ship to ship out of Guam.

One pays $101K and the other pays $210K per year.

I'm an "old man" in this industry - 40 years and 14,000 hrs driving helicopters.  I'm WAY too old to fly combat again.  Although, it interested me, I'll pass on the Iraq job.

I love flying fires!  I've flown the last 5 years with the same fire-crew.  They are my "water-children" - that's a spin off of R H's "water-brother" concept.  Read ""Stranger in a Strange Land" - it's a cult book from the 60's.  Worth the read!

This contract is 6 weeks on/6 weeks off, all travel paid - but you LIVE on the ship!  I don't do "boats" - much less ships.

I'll work half a year - just like fires - and get twice the money.

Do you "take the money and run" - or do you go with what you know and are comfortable with and pass up $50,000 - or do you go with a new company and take your chances?

Don't know guys - I'd like your input.

Genltle winds,
cr

[Preacherman]

Sounds like you're getting close to retirement age.  If that's the case, examine your finances.  Have you saved enough to retire comfortably?  If so, why worry about the new job?  If not - I'd grab the opportunity.  It's not that great a sacrifice to live on a ship for six months to a year, and come home with $100K safely saved up.  A couple of years of that could make the difference between "just getting by" in retirement, and living comfortably.

[Fly320s]

I'll never tell anyone to take a job just for the money.  In my experience, people who are working for the money are less motivated to do a good job compared to people who do the job because that is what they want to do. 

But, as Preacherman said, you have to do what is best for you and your family.  It sounds to me like you really enjoy flying helicopters, but you want a warm, soft bed at the end of the day.  I'm thinking that living on a boat will not satisfy you.  But, if you are the adventurous type, this might be your last big hurrah before retirement.

Some other things to consider:

What kind of hours will you fly?  Will you be flying only in the warm Pacific or will you be moved around as needed?  Maybe you'll be stuck on Guam not flying for awhile; how's that sit with you?