With much sadness and a sniff or two, we left our nice campsite at Charleston AFB and headed to our “home”. 112 miles. Not a PDD day. Nope, not even close.
Even so, it was still nice to get back.
And I came back with a new addition to our Honda Element Toad.
I found one of the Coast Guard Retired stickers at the Sector Charleston Coast Guard Base exchange. I wanted one for a long time and finally was successful. A well spent three bucks.
That sticker represents a milestone for us. 1 September marks the day I retired two years ago. Already. Thanks to all you taxpayers out there that have pitched in to pay me to stay home. :c)
We’re looking down the road in a short time to head to St. Louis, MO to visit son Ryan’s family in their new house.
We hope to be there around the 15th or 16th for about a week or so before we have to head to our Workamping job (with Mike and Terri) at the Strom Thurmond COE Recreation area , near Atlanta, GA. The lake there straddles the boundary between GA and SC. We’re going to be there three months. Workamping should keep us out of trouble for the most part. The good thing is it is still within reasonable driving distance to the Columbia, SC Veterans Hospital if I need any follow up appointments.
Then come January 1, 2014, we’re heading West. NOT!!!
Seems my brother Gordy,(shown here with our granddaughter Anabelle) has allowed his daughter, Samantha to get engaged to the man of her dreams.
So there is a wedding in the future. Originally she planned to have the wedding on 14 March 2014. Kind 'a tight for us for a leisurely WWS (Western Winter Sojourn) but we could still make it and have a good time on the “Left Coast”. A few PDD days, but it would be worth it.
Then:
![torpedo_away-thumb-500x357[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8M4oKRYESkiWMguP0TO3winqJ4d4tR7rkaYbiO5OPCfuToBbSUC7fBEVt6pelfRKEXu9Fsb6dbpsNJAvLtnN8DAZsgwrh_3CcYWpOqS6w5k_KE1XUejTdr5aBrFdfsRObpiI0fry_IXtM/s1600-h/torpedo_away-thumb-500x357%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "torpedo_away-thumb-500x357[1]")
She changed the date to 1 March 2014!!! Without checking with us first! Samantha torpedoed our plans. The nerve of some people’s children!
So we’ve watch our WWS plans sink out of sight.
![images[3]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHVxkY6rv9DG8Pjyc7TM-T7zLCpgRwsWE1-_R0HU8X0P5CioZ47XCp3KWFnTQLy2G2fuo6M-L4dlewUaewUI0XpRxzTrRZLXJ8n_1YvY2OUpyk3fBZfwDNcFbc3xZZEHuI1JT33VaVrRO/s1600-h/images%25255B3%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "images[3]")
What are we going to do now? Florida, here we come.
Just wanted to give all our Floridian friends fair warning. :cP
And for our Western friends, there are still many other months left in 2014. That gives you plenty of time to find places to hide from us…
Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.
![license_20110706205528_24375[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQ6odE2jo-hcpH2vkHvwTmYzTDxRO87B_bXI1hdgNO8eNcWMiz_2omVi7i2TQEspDYbDGdvMeHAsXIV8lMOIGqttiOgutD2EMyRjtpR8juSi0B_pWdd6yvNRpcy2yyAnXhX_R_uRJnXTk/s1600-h/license_20110706205528_24375%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "license_20110706205528_24375[1]")
Thanks to all you taxpayers out there that have pitched in to pay me to stay home. :c)
ReplyDeleteIt's always refreshing when someone calls it like it is. Most people who suck from the public trough come out with this "I earned it" crap. Lol.
We'll be interested to see how your workcamping assignment goes.
Kevin - you're an idiot. You continue to demonstrate this with dumb comments like the one you just left.
DeletePaul earned his pension with hard work and dedication as did other armed forces veterans. Also, so do our firemen, policemen, teachers, nurses, sanitary workers and others.
Resorted to calling names again huh Rick. First I'm a racist, and now I'm an idiot. Nice talk.
DeleteI didn't mean to start a controversy, I was trying to make a joke.
DeleteBut I think I need to clarify things. First of all, during the 30 1/2 years I was on active duty, I paid taxes, I still pay taxes out of my retired pay.
My salary was well below civilian salaries that did comparable jobs, and some jobs I did there was no civilian counterpart. In fact, during the early years of my career, my pay was so low I qualified for food stamps, which I never signed up for. Instead, I studied and worked hard and earned promotions to increase my income.
My career consisted of many days and months away from home, at times with no notice. I spent time in war zones, in unsavory areas of the world working in the counter narcotics programs and undercover work as well as in severe storms at sea risking my life to save others in peril.
I have permanent injuries that occurred during my career that will be with me the rest of my life.
Then, not to mention, I can be recalled to active duty in the event of a major national crisis.
When I signed up for the Coast Guard, I entered in to a contract with the U.S. Government who promised me retired pay at the end of my career for my dedicated service.
So I'm not sucking from the public trough, I've earned every penny.
As in every line of work, there are those who earn every penny, and those who don't. Perhaps some took my comment personally, but there was no slight intended against you Paul.
DeleteNo worries, apology accepted! Now lets all go RVing! :cD
DeleteGetting to see Ryan and the girls will be a treat for you two. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI always love reading about folks families, but your "illustrations" of what's happening are terrific! I don't even know where to begin to find such appropriate photos ;-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your two year anniversary. Time really does fly (however, not while you're in a dentist chair.)
ReplyDeleteWith reference to sucking from the trough the regulation does not call it a pension, but deferred compensation. They just feel bad for not paying us while we are in and hope we don't last long enough to draw more. :)
ReplyDeleteWish we had one of them retirement pensions, but did not have one of those government type jobs.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy you work camping and we will keep an eye our for you on the road.
Hey! Maybe I'll meet you in Flo
ReplyDeleteWait, she moved it up 14 days and it torpedoed your plans?? What am I missing? Never mind, don't tell me. I'm just glad you are coming to Florida so perhaps I can harrass you in person.
ReplyDeleteWell, we figured we'd spend three or four months out west next year. Then when the wedding was for mid March, we figured we could still do two months out west and then get back to NJ in two weeks for the wedding. Once it got moved up another two weeks, we decided two months won't be enough to do a relaxing trip out west, so Florida it is.
DeleteCan't wait to treat you to some J-M-C ice cream! :c)
So maybe summer will be better to head west with no pressure on us.
Well we'll be in the same place 3 different times! Yahoo :) 2014 should be an interesting year for all of us :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the warning that you are not coming out west Paul. I was trying to bribe the workers along the border to divert the 'fence building' to make it along the California/Arizona border to keep riff-raff like you out of beautiful Palm Springs.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they need to construct a fence around the Canadian/US border. We have a whole summer ahead and we know where Vancouver Island is...
DeleteWe have a site here, actually two, at Dogpound North and would welcome a visit from you and Marti anytime. And you really can't get to BC without going past us, and spending some time in the Canadian Rockies.
DeleteWell alrighty...there will be a bunch of Dreamers in Florida this winter. Hope we touch base at some point:o) Watch out for the trees at Strom Thurmond...they are a bit touchy;-)
ReplyDeleteYep....we'll be in Florida this winter....hope our paths cross!
ReplyDeleteWorkamping? Now that's a surprise to me. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteAbout all I can say about the controversy is Hoo-ah!
Can Florida handle it? I think so.
ReplyDeleteSyl
The best time to come to the northern part of the west coast is later in the year anyway. Summer is just now starting on the Oregon coast!! Enjoy your travels and enjoy your pension. I'm happy to contribute to the retirement of our service men and women.
ReplyDeleteIf the western states are out, then perhaps Key West is calling your name this winter?
ReplyDeleteModern kids, no respect:)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it silly how a simple comment can stir up a hornet's nest. thank goodness we all have a good sense of humor
ReplyDeleteSo, we scared you off, huh? Well, there's always next year. You may be able to run but you certainly can't hide! The nerve of these children not letting us make those decisions for them!!
ReplyDeleteCome on down to Florida! We are counting on a visit.
ReplyDeleteAnd, in my opinion- My tax dollars are well spent on our Coast Guard :). I wish we would spend a few more of them to get the VA running more smoothly for all our veterans.
Count me in as another supporter of your retirement. Well earned!
ReplyDeleteWe may see you in Florida as well :)
Well Paul, you know my feelings about government pensions. I KNOW that you earned it. I just can't believe it's already been 2 years since you retired.
ReplyDeleteIf you make it to Key West, you'll have one less RVer to compete for a site with, since we won't beable to make it this year. Know what you mean about plans being torpedoed.
ReplyDeleteI also want to thank you and your son for your Coast Guard service. Glad you are enjoying a comfortable retirement that is well-deserved.
ReplyDeleteHope our paths cross in Florida this winter!
Paul, from one military retiree to another, thanks for your service. A commitment to the armed forces could mean the ultimate sacrifice for our country; therefore I have never considered it to be "a government job".
ReplyDeleteSMSgt (ret) Don Catoe, USAF
Great and interesting blog, Your idea you share is more useful for me. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteZion RV Park
It's been 2 yrs, ALREADY? wow that went fast. We're ending our fourth year. We'll see you in Florida, hopefully.
ReplyDeletePersonal attacks and name calling is why we quit following some blogs, Rick's being one.
ReplyDeletePaul, thanks for your service, you deserve your pension. FWIW I thought it was a joke.