Cooooor, a HUD, some guys have all the luck!! I bet that beats plodding the streets of Liverpool
We are your only reality check because it is not in anyone else's interests for you to know there is a downside to the job.
When I started PPRuNe-ing back in '98 it was this very advice from the people from the inside that I found most valuable, which is why I made the decisions that I did about my training and plans for my future. Because of this I have no regrets about my course of action (unfortunately some religious fanatics have made things a little more difficult though!). It's nice to see that the advice is still being given, unfortunately it's not heeded as well as it might be!