Tacoma,
It really doesn't feel like life or death. It's a calling, a way of life, a great deal of fun - a lot of the time. I'm not a thrill seaker, but the element of risk does sharpen the mind. I would say that flying jets outside of ops is no more dangerous than things a lot of people do - the consequences when it goes wrong can be really bad, obviously. But the safety record, whatever peeps may think, is bloody good. On ops, it's just getting on with the job. That's why they pay us the big bucks and why they would never even think of messing with our pensions, quality of life, support, etc. Hang on!!!
Anyway, in my experience, as the risk level and hardship (occasinal) goes up, the banter and sick humour follows. Gallows humour? We're not really as flippent as we may seem. But, as the others have said, if you can't take a joke...