Just to echo the thoughts of some of the posters and say 'great thread.'
I am in the same position as one of my fellow posters in that I am just about to secure my first flying job (on the 737) and can not wait to get started. I have already enjoyed the beauty of getting up at 02:00 to be at the airport for 03:00 in order to serve 328pax with drinks and food for 4 hrs
I can now hopefully enjoy a comfy seat with 40,000lbs of thrust in my left hand
'Double back,' as a more 'mature' pilot you have a lot to offer the world of aviation and the next generation of pilots growing within it. My 737 sim instructors during my type rating, had long since retired from ferrying self-moving cargo, but the advice and training they gave me was invaluable. Learning from their experience and listening to what they had to say can only help me in my career.
I would love to be able to be in a position to give something back to aviation, by passing on my years of experience, in the sim to new jet guys/gals following my eventual retirement
Good luck to you in all your future endeavours.