How many here are military or ex-military

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Just out of curiosity and to confirm (or trash) a theory of mine I'd like to know who in the forum are active duty military or ex-military and are planning on starting a homestead after they get out.

My theory is that the longer military people are forced to wander all over the planet and live a highly structured, strict and disciplined lifestyle the more they begin to long for the peace, quiet, simplicity and stability that a homestead offers.

Im also kind of curious about where you are and where you've been, I once described myself and life in the Air Force as a "professional nomad" and I'd like to know if you think thats a fair assessment.

I'll start with myself; I'm in the USAF currently serving a unaccompanied remote in Keflavik, Iceland. I've been stationed at: McChord AFB, WA. Thule, Greenland. Hahn AB, Germany. Elmendorf AFB, AK. Tyndall AFB, FL. And I've got a follow-on back to Elmendorf. I've been in 15 years and overall its been worth it.

-- Dave (Ak) (daveh@ecosse.net), February 25, 2001

Answers

Dave: Hubby was USAF for 20 years, but then, he was the one seeking adventure and travel! After college he went in to fly--all he ever wanted to do since he was about 5 years old. We were stationed last in Hawaii, previous to that, Suwon and Osan AB in Korea, Myrtle Beach, SC, Davis Monthan AFB AZ, Fairchild AFB Wash, Castle AFB, CA, George AFB, CA, and a few others where he was TDY for extended periods of time. Every few years, I still get the urge to move, or at least move the furniture! I don't think he minds moving as much as I do. He came from a very small town, and didn't feel the tug of roots as much, I guess. As far as the structured life style, I think it is ingrained in him! Hope you are doing ok in Iceland. Heard it has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, is that true? And are all the roof-tops still multi-colored to help with the winter drabness? Good luck, and hang in there. Won't be much longer now. Jan

-- Jan in CO (Janice12@aol.com), February 25, 2001.

Well ,hello Dave... my computer "repairman" extraordinaire..My husband is retired from USCG. Fortunately he was on his last five years when we married. We retired out of N.J., moved back to my homestate of Md..then moved to Mo. about 13 years ago..going on 13 anyway..so I wasn't with him during all his travels. My son is in USAF now stationed in Colorado..has been in 6yrs. and is Staff Sgt. He was very glad to get back from S.Korea!! As far as a structured life, I think it has taken forever and then some to get the old man to not do things so quick, to take his time..to quit the "snap to, snap to" that was ingrained in him. He had 14 years of sea duty so I know he feels land-locked alot of times...would like to live closer to the water..preferably an ocean!! Doesn't care much for rivers and the fish that come out of them..He was originally from Mass. so what we have out here is a long way from seafood!!

-- Lynn(MO) (mscratch1@semo.net), February 25, 2001.

10 years Army. Out for a while now. Don't miss it anymore. Wish my hearing was as good as when I went in.

-- John in S. IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), February 25, 2001.

US Army,,, all of it,, beside TDY in the great (cough) state of MO,, hiya everyone in Rolla. Onlt signed up for 2,, extended for 4 months for Panama.

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 25, 2001.

4 years Marines,most of it in the control tower at Quantico.If someone had told me then,that I would be happy raising goats and cabbages,I would have said they were crazy.Still don't really know how it happened.

-- JT (gone2seed@hotmail.com), February 25, 2001.


Hello Dave, I was living in the country when I joined the Air Force back in '75 and came back to the country in '79. For the next twenty years I tried living in the cities, first Scranton, Pa. and Finally Orlando, Fl. In Orlando I save all the money I could so that I could finally move back to the country. Now, I live in the Missouri Ozarks and I think that has been the best move yet. I agree that most of us are looking for a peaceful, quiet, simple life that homesteading brings. I think we all seek that whether or not we were military or not. Sincerely, Ernest www.communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks

-- Ernest in the Ozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), February 25, 2001.

Dave, my hubby is ex Air Force. He loved the years he spent at Elmendorf. Transferring to Minot cured him of the Air Force. After he got out is when he did his travelling.

After moving 5 times in 3 years, he got tired of moving the portable orchard and we finally settled down. We live in Western Washington on an abandoned auxillary air station, and he chose a career in Corrections. The only thing missing is the moose. I would like to think this home is permanent, but I know he would like to go back to Alaska. (he says there is less rain and more sun there)

Being a homesteader isn't just about owning your own piece of land and staying put. It is your frame of mind, the pioneer spirit, the skills and knowledge that you take with you wherever you go and you put to use no matter where you live. Perhaps we should call it Creative Living, as that is what so many of us are doing in so many different ways.

-- Laura (gsend@hotmail.com), February 26, 2001.


4 years in the USAF 1967-1971. Been to Texas, South Carolina, California, SE Asia. Hated it at the time, but look back at it as some of the best days of my life.

-- JimR (jroberts1@cas.org), February 26, 2001.

3 years, 11 months, 27 days in the air force. Libya, Germany, Nevada Hated it!!! But, it got me a college education, bought 2 homes with the benefits, and VA hospital access. Seems like a fair trade. Doug

-- Doug (KY) (toadshutes@yahoo.com), February 26, 2001.

Ex USAF, lotsa places. Id tell ya but then...

-- William in Wi (gnarledmaw@lycos.com), February 26, 2001.


Hi Dave,

We're Ex and Active.

I'm ex army (4 years, 1991 through 1995) Joined up a bit late. I was 32! Loved it, miss it sometimes. Was stationed at Ft Dix, NJ (basic) Ft. Sam Houston,TX a couple of times for training and schools. 12 months at Camp Humphries, Korea (at the original 4077th M.A.S.H) 3 years at Ft. Lewis,WA. Few months in Somalia.

Always a homesteader at heart but also crave travel and adventure. Guess I've been blessed to have had a life of both extremes. Now I'm enjoying beeing a stay at home Mum.

Hubby Ken is active army here at Ft.Bragg,NC. He's been in 15 years. He's airbourne and currently an instructor on the jumpmaster course. He's been stationed here 3 times. 3 years in Baumholder,Germany; 3 years Ft. Lewis, WA; 12 months unaccompanied Camp Casey,Korea. 12 Months unaccompanied Saudi Arabia. Lots of TDY to various far flung places. Thialand in a couple months.

We are just starting to look around for a place to settle when he gets out in 5 years. He's "all soldier" and I worry that he's going to be hit with culture shock when he has to work with civillians!! You know how everyone is so hung up on "feelings" and "sensitivity" these days. It'll be interesting.

He's a homesteader though. Can fix anything. Loves the garden. Not sure he's all that crazy about goats but he sure dives in and helps me a lot with them. I got the shock of my life when he walked in early one rainy afternoon last week yelling "C'mon girl, it's a good day to trim hooves!"

Hope to make it to Iceland one day. I have good friends up there in Akureyri. What a pity it's an unaccompanied tour. It would be a lot more fun to have your family with you. Make the most of it anyway and see all you can. To me it looks beautiful. But I have a penchant for stark landscapes.

Also wish we'd had the time to go up and check out Alaska while we were on the west coast. The airport lounge at Anchorage is as close as we got. Do you plan to settle up there and homestead?

Like you, we have no regrets about choosing a military life. The long seperations are a pain, but it makes the time we have together extra precious. I think we're closer because of it.

Those long summer days are on the way Dave! Hang in there.

Pauline and Ken in NC

-- Pauline (tworoosters_farm@altavista.com), February 26, 2001.


As Gomer would say "Golllly!" Thule, you say! You were in the "Big City"! Remember the USCoast Guard Loran Station at Cape Atholl? I was CO from July '65 to August '66. Our support was ARRS, the zoomies that flew the "mixmaster" double main blade helicopters. We went to Thule for R&R, while you wimps went back to Conus every 6 months! Yeah, I stayed with it until I retired nearly 20 years ago. We lived like serfs while I was active duty, and after retirement we have enjoyed the retirement packaqe. We'll never get rich, but my retirement allows me to waste money farming. Finally, after 8 years of a slime-bag who "loathed the military", we have an honorable MAN in the White House who will back those of us who have put our lives on the line! God is good, if forgetful! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), February 26, 2001.

Brad - so you were at Camp Atholl?? Good grief..... That place was long gone by the time I got there, its just a collection of slowly crumbling buildings that are filling up with ice, I think I've got a couple of pictures somewhere of a trip that I went on to look at it, I'll scan them and send it your way.

A lot of its been demolished but the main building is still mostly there, there was a couple of feet of ice coating the floors though.

On that same trip our 6 pack broke an axle on the way back (BIG potholes) and we had to hoof it, it took us about 7 hours to walk back, we always referred to that particular trip as the "Camp Atholl Death March". All the old missile sites are filling up with ice too.... Damn, until you mentioned it name I hadnt thought of Atholl for probably 8 or 9 years.....

Dave

-- Dave (Ak) (daveh@ecosse.net), February 26, 2001.


Hi Dave,

I referred to myself as a "vagabond on the face of the earth." 23 years....13 of it in Europe, 1 in Southeast Asia, and the rest in the U.S.A. Assignments are as follows: Lackland/Medina, Tx; Lowry AFB, Colo; Hahn Ab, Germany; Korat, Thailand; Aeronautical Chart and Information Center, St. Louis, Mo, Shaw AFB, SC; Univ of Ky; RAF Alconbury, UK; Ramstein, Germany; RAF Welford, UK; Crane Naval Weapons Center, IN. I retired in '89 and have done a little bit of everything since that time. Currently trying to finish a home we built from a barn on our 145 wooded acres. Our electricity is all solar and we have our own water through a cistern and well. My wife put it best: "Most people pay a lot of money to go to a resort for a couple of weeks.....We live on one!" We love it out here..we can actually see the stars at night.

-- Wayne in Kentucky (wallen328@aol.com), February 26, 2001.


I spent 7 years 9 months and nine days in the USN. I too was stationed in Iceland at the Naval Security Group Activity just on the other side of Rockville. It is closed down now, but I sure had a good time four-wheeling on the glacers. I was glad to get out of the strict life afforded by the USN but I do miss the common bond that we all held, but don't miss the bouncing around. I was stationed in Orlando Fla ,Pensacola FL, Denver Co, Sugar Grove WVA, Keflavik Iceland, and Sabana Seca Puerto Rico.

-- Ed Holt (goat@sssnet.com), February 27, 2001.


Do children of military parents count? Both hubby and I are "army brats". Our fathers were in the Canadian Armed Forces.

-- Terri in NS (terri@tallships.ca), February 27, 2001.

My husband served on a destroyer off the coast of China for four years during the Korean war. Joined the Navy to keep from being cannon fodder in Army. My oldest brother joined at the same time but after boot camp, he went to an LST. Second brother joined Air Force to avoid Army, 3rd brother tried to enlist in Navy, Air Force and even Marines, but was rejected because of health. Guess what! Army drafted him and he spent time on front lines in Korea. Youngest brother was in Air Force during 'Nam, but spent the time in Libya. Thank the Lord, all my brothers and future husband came home safely. Recently visited our daughter near New Orleans and they took us to the refurbished destroyer anchored in Baton Rouge. First time Bob laid eyes on one since his discharge late '54. We married when I finished nurses training in '57 and have traveled extensively in those years.

-- ruth in s.e.Illinois (bobtravous@email.com), February 27, 2001.

Hubby is Army-Reserve-National Guard. He has "Summer camp" next week...at least it is close to home! He'll get his retirement letter befor ethe year is out, hopefully. He (WE!) can't wait!

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), February 27, 2001.

Wow, a lot more military in here than I thought. I only thought there would be 3 or 4 from hints in their posts....

-- Dave (Ak) (daveh@ecosse.net), February 27, 2001.

Dave - here are some more ghosts from Greenland (I was there in '65 - '66) Ever see Camp Century - the "City under the Ice" out on the icecap? How about "Camp Tuto" which was about 1/3 the way to "P- Mountain"? It was actually Pinguassuit, but nobody except the 'skimos ever said that. Been to Qunaq? or "kanak" as most said. I took a February (dark, dark, dark) dogsled ride from Cape Atholl to Thule over the sea ice with a couple of Qunaq eskimos. About 40 miles, took 5 hours. Incredible experience. I still have many "tupelaks" that I traded for. For you flatlanders, those are the native carvings, although that generally meant soapstone. Ivory was "Tugak", and that name was generally applied to the carvings as well. Do you have an "oosik"? I do. How many of you countrysiders know what that is? Check in, all of you who have seen the sun go down in November and reappear in February! GL! Old Weird Brad!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), February 27, 2001.

Brad, "OOsik" you have to come up with something harder than that,LOL it's the penile bone from a Walrus. Trip of life time for me dog sledding on Baffin Island. How many CS's know what a "qimuksig" is? Ex-USAF here May,1971 to August,1973

-- Tom (tjk@cac.net), February 27, 2001.

Stepdad was in the USAF. Did a bit of moving for the time I was still at home.

To all of you who have served or are serving --- BLESS YOU! You have my respect and admiration. And my Thanks.

-- Wendy@GraceAcres (wjl7@hotmail.com), February 28, 2001.


US Army veteran for me, drafted during the Vietnam Era. Basic, AIT, and permanent duty assignment at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. MOS was military police.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), February 28, 2001.

Hi Dave, I am a retired Seabee chief petty officer (21 years AD). I stayed longer than I originally intended but I don't think I would do things TOO differently. I am glad to be into another career and looking forward to settling in on my 49 acres in Kentucky. Mike

-- Mike Meyer (mmeyer@hixson-inc.com), February 28, 2001.

I am an Air Force brat. Dad retired out of the service when I was fifteen. Hubby did three years in the Army before he met me, one of the years was in Vietnam. He had orders to go back for another year but was told that any of them that only had six months left on their enlistments if they could find a national guard unit that would take them, they could go there instead. He quickly found one. I never understood why they forced some guys to take two tours in Vietnam when there were plenty that had never gone. Seems to me once you served, it should have been enough. (I'm not talking about the ones that volunteered for a second term.) Oh well, his year affected him big time and me as well over the years although the bad days are behind us. He will never forget but at least he can live his life now in relative peace. My hats are off to all of you veterans, combat or otherwise, for allowing the rest of us to have the peaceful lives we live. For those of you who went to 'Nam, welcome home.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), February 28, 2001.

OK, TOM, what in hades is a "qimuksig'? I spent a lot of time "up there" and cannot interpret your "Greendlandese". I have a bit of an understanding of Northern Greenland Intuit language, at least enough to converse! I suspect you have "mikkisuk" ability. Maybe not, but would you like to trade a "tugok tupelak" for a few coins of the realm?

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), February 28, 2001.

OK, TOM, what in hades is a "qimuksig'? I spent a lot of time "up there" and cannot interpret your "Greendlandese". I have a bit of an understanding of Northern Greenland Intuit language, at least enough to converse! I suspect you have "mikkisuk" ability. Maybe not, but would you like to trade a "tugok tupelak" for a few coins of the realm? I suspect not!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), February 28, 2001.

I'm Active duty USCG. I got a little over 300 days until I retire at 20. I am a CWO2 WEPS. We are finally going to settle down on about an hour away from "Fort Lost in the Woods" MO. We were blessed with living in some great places. Cape Hatteras NC, Astoria OR, and 12 wonderful years in AK (Kodiak and Ketchikan). I am finishing up on a desk bound staff job in Portsmouth VA. We can't wait to start the homesteading lifestyle "for real"

-- Roscoe Rotten (rkphipps@simflex.com), February 28, 2001.

Former Marine, from 1990-1992. Stationed down at Camp Lejeune North Carolina.

-- Carter, C. (elin7@hotmail.com), March 01, 2001.

Roscoe - I was Industrial Manager at Base Ketchikan from '68 to '71, and some folks in that town still remember me! I was also the Project Engineer on the "new" Loran c stations in '76. Was stationed in ecv in Juneau, and we built the stations in Kodiak, Tok, and halfway up Carroll Inlet in Ketchikan, as I'm sure you are aware. Ever catch nearly 100 sea-run cutthroats (all about 18") in Bostwick Inlet during the spring tides? It has spoiled me for fishing in Maine! Where are you, fellow Coastie? I'd like to commune with you other ex-military types too, at least if you can come up to Coast Guard standards, which is not a given! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), March 01, 2001.

asujutilli Brad, Qanuippit? ullumi taqavungga. silami lkknmaqtuq, anuraaqtuq & tuktunik takujumavunga

Tavvauvutit

"qimuksiq" means dog team. or some spell it "qimmuksit"

Depending on what region you learn the language some are quite different. Baffin and Kivalliq regions are fairly similar but different from Gjoa Haven,Taloyoak,or Pelly Bay. Like "Siksik" in eastern Nunavut is "hikhik" in the western part.

-- Tom (tjk@cac.net), March 01, 2001.


Howdy all. USAF 4 years, for me, 1977-1981. Lackland and Keesler for aircraft radio and avionics. Then Nellis AFB in Vegas for two years. A dozen side trips to Kirkland, England, Eglin, Luke, Langley, and Mcdill AFB. Then uprooted from Vegas to Okinawa (Kadena AFB) for a year and a half. Great memories, but you’re always subject to da MAN…

-- Action Dude (theactiondude@yahoo.com), March 02, 2001.

David and I both Navy vets. He retired (early) off submarines. USS Ohio and USS Montpelier, schools and instructor duty inbetween. We all know why he wanted wide open spaces! Me, 9 years Navy, Hospital Corpsman & Personel. NAS Corpus Chirsti, NAS Whidbey Island, Naval Hospital Beaufort, SC, Camp Pendleton, CA and Bremerton, WA. Schools in Great Lakes and Meridian MS (what a pit!)and Oakland, CA. We always wanted our piece of the country and I think we earned it. I have to say I loved my time in the military but David hated his.

-- Margie (bromens5@navix.net), March 04, 2001.

I'm an Ex-Navy wife. My husband was in for 30 years. I was with him for 261/2 of those 30 years. It was hard at times because he was at sea alot and we had children with special needs. He retired in 1993. He was a CMC. I know he loved the Navy and hated to get out. In retospect, Things were not too bad as we lived in one place for 19years and he just moved from comand to comand in the area. But like I said he spent a lot of time at sea. His one love was Subs. It was worth it. If I had it to do overagain I would do things different for the family's sake but it was an Honor to be a part of a GREAT POPULATION " THE US MILITARY." God Bless those that still serve and Thank God for those who gave their lives for this GREAT COUNTRY we live in,inspite of all the problems. To bad more young people don't feel this kind of honor....TO Serve....

-- Rebecca Wold (lvnbkw@pacbell.net), July 14, 2001.

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