As one who has put quality of life ahead of career mostly, it has all worked out pretty good.
I now live in about as good a place as exists on this planet, make reasonable money, fly decent equipment over an interesting route strucure for a nice bunch of people. Trouble is, in chasing the quality of life, I haven't saved any money, and now it turns out this sweet job has absolutely no security.
But it could be worse - plenty of guys have all of the above PLUS money and job security - but they have ugly wives.
I don't know what the moral of this story is, other than 'don't worry, be happy'