Thread: long hiatus

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Thanks for the kind words. It is amzing to hear someone tell me I'm young, around here I am the 'old man'. I hear it so much I am starting to believe it. Getting the 'short time' mentality, that anything I want to accomplish better have a ten year plan. Wrong thinking I suppose.

I have too many ideas to sort out just now, for what to do after my tour. At this point, I am sure only that I have no desire to finish my 16 years in the army to retire: one of my master plans when I re-upped this time.

On the other hand, I have a little money now, and plans of buisness start - ups are dancing like the proverbial Christmas sugar plums. Ultimately, I want a large two-story shop: metal below, and wood above. I've met a gal who loves wood working, so I could put her to work upstairs while I build 'rods' downstairs.

Unfortunatley, that is pretty much a pipe dream, as I don't have enough money to cover the metal building and pad, let alone the machinery.

Another serious thought, is go full out on my previous hobby of leatherwork. I had been making custom leather for Indian motorcycles, and my customers were highly impressed with my quality of craftsmanship, and attention to detail. My gal is also intrested in learning that. I already have about three K$ in leather tooling and assorted stuff, so another ten for inventory ( retail sales as well as custom fabrication ) and I'd be in buisness with the 12X24 shed I already have on the property.

Got some reality checks there too... who the hell can afford to be self-insured ( medical ) these days? Also, I'm a nice enough guy, but haven't yet met the person who can handle me 24X7 for any length of time. And she's a nice enough gal, and she sees stars and stripes forever, but I'm not so sure.

Also, not entirely ready to say completely no way to another sixteen years in the army... it would be nice to have a retirement check... but no way can I make it that long in the infantry. My original goal was to re-class after this three year tour. I will have to take a look into that, but my back may force me out anyway. It got jacked up pretty good in a log drill ( for something that wasn't my fault at all ) and I am probably looking at getting a medical discharge after this deployment. IF I can make it through, and don't get medivac-ed out for the back or knees. This stuff ain't for sissies.

God, it's terrible, it's like I am 18 again trying to figure out what to do when I grow up, only this time I am more fully aware of the penalty of poor planning!

Man, like Don said you had a lot going on, but you made honorable choices and are following through with them. Thank you for being there, and as the "old man" I bet you bring lots of stability to your unit. I had a guy tell me long ago that the secret to a happy life was to find something you really enjoyed doing, and figure out a way to make money doing it. We chatted with a guy in one of the "artsy" areas in the smoky mountains that had retired from factory work in Chicago, bought a woodcraft laser, and was cranking out souvenir's and doing custom laser work, loving every day of his life. Your leather work might be that thing for you, or a combo leather/wood shop if things work out with the lady. Food for thought, anyway....
Looking forward to a post from you saying you're home safe, working your plan, and living your dreams.

My dad has told me several times he has never really figured out what he wanted to do, but in the mean time he has retired from a 35+ year career with the goverment and made money to have fun along the way, including in his now 10 year retirement. Through his government job he has seen more countries than I could dream of. Don't tell him he "retired" though. In his eyes he quit and in a way he did since no one knew he was retiring, not even his boss. Now among other things he is building his high school car with his son and I will probably rebuild it again in 50 years with my son (if hot rodding is still alive ) I certainly won't be retiring with my current company, but it's nice to know that I can find happiness without having a dream job. It sure would be nice to make a little more money and/or enjoy my job a bit more though

Good luck and stay safe