John_44,
I'm sure you can tell from the previous posts here that refusing to go on tour without a good reason is strongly frowned upon. The CF does make allowances for members to "not participate" in a tour due to circumstances that would hinder their ability to function on tour like relational/marital, financial, or physical issues. However, if a member sat through months and months of training knowing full well that they never intended to deploy, this would raise the question, "Why did you join in the first place?".
While everyone needs a paycheck, the Canadian Forces is a career and will challenge you in ways you can't imagine. It is this challenge, and your willingness to test yourself in the face of adversity that together can make for a life changing experience.
Perhaps the real question you should be asking, (and more to yourself than to an online forum) is "If I was to join the CF what would I want to accomplish personnally and proffesionally?". By joining the CF you would leave the "where and when" up to the will of the Canadian people.
I have a wife and three sons, I went to Afghanistan and some days I was very worried that I would not return to them. But I joined the CF for an adventure, and the CF did not disappoint. While I was there I was continually driven by the desire to conduct myself in a manner that would make myself and my family proud. If it was to be my only tour, and my only exposure to a "war-like environment", then I wanted to make damn sure that I did my country, my family and myself proud.
I do not regret my decision to join and I have no doubt that if you choose to join you will make life long friends, improve your physical condition and be fired up about getting wherever it is they decide to send you so you can prove to yourself and others that you are all that and more!
Hazaa