[rattlsnak]

I started out as a automotive tech and worked my way up to senior master ASE tech, and then shop foreman, asst mgr, etc. and then got hired by the manufacturer as a technical trainer and field tech rep and gave it all up to become a pilot at age 40 and basically started at the bottom of the food chain all over again and finally made it to the big leagues a few years ago.

If you don't 'need' to work its one thing - being relatively financially secure enough makes a HUGE difference on what you're able to do.. but starting all over from the bottom at an older age is tough. In my case, it worked out but i went through MANY rough years in my mid to late 40s trying to make ends meet.