To bring the thread back on topic, Do I regret getting out?
Never in a million years. I have often thought about what it would be like to go back in with some of the knowledge I have now about certain things, but I am costantly reminded about all the things that helped make my decision to get out. Are there things that I miss? Absolutely, a lot of which are very similar to a previous post by someone else. But the bottom line is that..
-I get to sleep in my own bed EVERY SINGLE night.
-If someone wants me to be at work just in case something happens or on a holiday or weekend, it is going to cost them and I will get paid for it.
-If life truly gets crappy at this job, I can switch to a new career without having to wait YEARS.
-My personal and family life isn't required to be a secondary consideration when it comes to my job.
-My bosses actually understand that I am an asset that can leave at anytime, therefore actually try to make life bearable rather than treat me like and indentured servant that may or may not stick around after 6 years. Throw some money at him and hope, if not OH WELL.
I may not make as much as some of you NLOs or other guys, but I can say that I get paid rediculously well for the amount of work I actually have to do. A job with little to no stress, you can't get that in the Navy.