I only fly for fun, however, my instructor and I are good friends. I got my ticket just after 9/11. In fact, on 9/11 I was supposed to do my 1st solo. Then it was postponed a few months before I could start again. My primary instructor had about 700 hours at that time. My backup instructor, came back from Continental having been furloughed. I think he had 1500 hours. He was pulled back up to the big leagues about a year or so after that. My instructor got the call when he had about 1300 hours doing regional work in Saabs. Eventually, he got called up and now flies the big jets to england. He loves his job.
Instructing is a way to go. If you decide to do this, do it in some area with good weather and cheap rent. Florida was how many I heard have done it.
Another pretty good option where I met a few guys doing is flying for skydiving units, especially in the south (again good weather). It can get you much more multi-engine time. This is where I had an opportunity to fly an otter...woof, that was cool. Having flown mostly 152s, it was quite the experience.
