Or an alternative view:
1. mates you would put your life on the line for - you clearly don't work with the civil serpants of **** PT (add any platform or project you like)
2. a higher cause than company profits - but no bonus scheme for ensuring such cause is successfully on target
3. a nobler cause than personal gain - wife and 3 kids; I can't get too moralistic about this one
4. the banter - equal ops and the pc crowd put paid to that about 10 years ago
5. a sense of pride in 2 and 3 - sorry that's just a repeat
6. a public that (mostly) appreciates what you do - and a government that clearly doesn't
7. it’s still a lifestyle (not a bad one) more than a job - if only