I would recommend, for anyone planning to box down teh road, to start an extra account now, level a toon high enough to get your ship ( level 15ish, so you have two companions for missions ) ) so you can log that account on and do crew missions while you level your main account. Just a though.. you could also use it to dump item you want to auction.

I have been able to keep my mission crew skills up with my trade skills and gathering by doing the above 8)