Tacitus,
Thanks for starting this thread, it's cheering me up, or at least most of it is. I'm going down the same route as you, working in the oil industry just to get enough cash to fly. Currently half way through my ATPLs and been rejected to 3 pilot programs/aerial survey future pilot schemes. Still, I watch my big oil salaries come in and I do not regret for one second the amount that has come out for my training so far.
One day... Whether it is crop dusting in Sudan or surveying in Norwich, I will end up in that seat.
Don't give up. Seriously. I think that 20 years for now, you will regret it if you do.