For me it was an enormous strain on my marriage and family but something i was prepared to sacrifice all for (young and stoopid!). hOWEVER THANKS TO A VERY UNDERSTANDING WIFE we got through it. Funny thing my three children could recite the phonetic alphabet by the age of 3 and identify morse code by the age of 6. By that time they had been to almost every airport or airfield or ALA throughout Oz!!
Now at the dinner table and ages 36, 34 and 32 with 5 grand kids the conversation often evolves around their childhoods being spent at airports!! PLUS they can all still recite the phonetic alphabet and remember tail numbers of aircraft they had travelled in. Lost count of how many times on short finals my wife would say "hurry up, she's green" only to wear a load of vomit to the back of my head. If only i could turn back the clock......I'd do it all again!!