I never wanted to be an airline pilot despite all my friends either being airline pilots are desperate to be one. I had a job lined up with Jazz on Dash 8/300 a few years ago and realised it was not what I wanted. I never intended on becoming a Commercial Pilot at all, I just fell into it, right place at the right time (or wrong time depending on your view!)!!!
Another three hand half thousand hours on top ferrying, teaching, examining, parachute dropping, air taxi and light cargo in everything from SEP to twin turbine and I still love what I do and have not changed my mind. Whereas most of my mates bemoan the gloss has gone and they wish they could be doing the same. I guess sometimes the grass is not greener.
I think the thing for me was the level of dedication and rigidity needed to be an airline pro never appealed to me.