I could be happier but then so could everyone.
Like bored above me, it's the relationships with colleagues and crews that make it bearable. I think there's something about working shifts with other people that makes you both slightly crazy but also better friends, as opposed to people who do Mon-Fri in an office 9-5. It's only true friends that you can turn round to and take the p*ss out of at 5am in the morning and all through the night and walk out of work not wanting to kill each other. We're all in the brown stuff together. We all have a great working relationship with our based crews and it's satisfying to know that we both regard each other as some of the best in the network.
The endless red-tape, memos, rules and latest procedures all make it frustrating though I try to avoid getting worked up about them, much better to adhere to them and see the reaction on management's face when it backfires on them and causes a delay.
I could go work in some other industry but I wouldn't enjoy it as much. I guess I'm lucky that I still hold a little bit of awe in getting to work with aircraft. The novelty has worn off but every so often I remember where I am or watch the first departure lift off into the sunrise and think despite all the crap, I couldn't see myself working anywhere else. Job satisfaction means a lot to me, and as a colleague and I discussed the other day, we both take so much personal pride in what we do we end up working our asses off to help deal with the failings of the company with unserviceable equipment and staff shortages.
Yea it could be better and I could be happier, but until I'm certain I've found something else that beats it, I'll stay put for now. Besides, where else would you get so much downtime in work? Yes somedays we go in and get completely hammered, but how many Sunday earlys or Saturday late shifts do you sit around and do very very little? We worked out our pay per turnaround, and it's certainly a figure I'd like to keep from the beancounters!!