can't stop rogueing!

I think I've been knitting madly away because I won't be taking this sweater to Europe. I hear things about airlines there not letting you knit! :( What will I do during takeoffs and landings then?!? so stressful! the knitting really helps! And no, not afraid of flying because of terrorists... I'm an engineer, studied a lot about failures, failure mechanisms, predicting failures... I can't help but think of how planes can fail! Eeek! Anyhow, the knitting takes my mind off of that, so boo. Guess I'll need a really good book or two then!
Now I'm back to square one, pondering how to start the body. Do I want to mess with the pattern? Do an easier hem? I have no idea! Why are there so many options?!?