URBAN TREK: Leg 3

I never posted the final leg of my journey. It will definitely have to be broken down into several smaller legs. I am considering IN, KY, TN, and GA before I get to FL. The weather should be fine, so we will see where I go.

TODAY'S LOOK

This is what I look like today. Can only get better!

RETIREMENT LOOK

After 22 years in the Marines, I need a new look. What do you think?

9 Aug-Today: SOUTH DAKOTA

I left AZ early on 9 Aug (Sun). This is also the un-official first day of my civilian life. I say unofficial, because my OFFICIAL retirement date is 30 Sep 2009. However, I have been released from the Marines without any possibility of going back. I will always remember 14 Sep 1987 as the day I left for the Marines and 9 Aug 2009 as the day I left the Marines.

As I was about to land in Sioux Falls, SD, I remembered that I departed for the Marines from this same airport; I am returning to the same town in the same state I left behind 22 years ago.

Being "home" is very interesting. Not much has really changed. The radio stations play the same music. The landscape looks the same. All of the people are exactly the same and this puzzles me; the older citizens must have all passed away after all these years, but they seem to all have been replaced by the next generation. They wear the same clothes and appear to do the same things. Interesting.

I have spent my days with more relaxation. I try not to think of problems, issues, or worry about others problems. This has become difficult due to all the "spare" time. I prefer to go fishing, read my books, update my blog, and visit with friends and family.

I first drove down to Sioux City, IA to catch up with my cousins, Lana and Devlin and their families. When I left for the Marines, they didn't have families, now they have a LOT of kids between them.

After IA, I headed for Watertown, SD where my mom and dad, Michelle and Earl, live. We all got together with my remaining brother and sister, Ricky J and Heidi, and had dinner at Dempsey's Pub.

Now, I am in Sisseton, SD visiting with my aunt and uncle, John and Laurie, and also my grandparents, Basil and Phyllis, from Pickstown, SD. All are ready to celebrate my retirement. Hopefully, my Aunts Lyla and Donna will join us since I missed the Ruckdaschel Reunion earlier this summer.

Spending time on Lake Kampeska and testing out my Trek gear has been fun and bolsters my confidence in my upcoming adventure. I even caught a walleye on my first fishing trip. I will try again later this evening on Lake Traverse.

So, now that my Urban Trek is about to begin, stay tuned for updates.

6-9 Aug: ARIZONA

While in AZ, my brother and his friends worked on his GTO and replaced his cam shaft to increase the horsepower. I didn't work, but drank beer while THEY worked. I am now officially retired and wanted to take advantage of that while in one of the largest retirement communities on earth.

We talked about retirement and my plans for my Trek and came up with four solid reasons for this journey:
1. Discovering what I want to do with my life.
2. Test the validity of humanity...predominantly good or bad people on this planet.
3. Write a book on how to retire and enjoy life.
4. Improve my fitness and overall well-being.

3-6 Aug: CALIFORNIA

After enjoying HI for a few days it was time to move on to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA and start the administrative process. The Marines along with Ms. Perez made it a very easy process. The necessary paperwork was completed in an expedient manner and made for a smooth transition.

I had plenty of time off. I was only required to be in uniform the first day I arrived and checked in. After, I wore civilian attire. I guess it helped with the transition. It was liberating to be able to take my last set of desert utilities with boots and discard them. It felt sacrilegious to throw them away with the trash, so I bagged them up and left them near the trashcan. "Fair winds and following seas..."

With the time off, I took a trip up to 29 Palms, CA to relax some more and also to catch up with my sister, Haili, who lives in Desert Hot Springs. We stayed at the 29 Palms Inn and enjoyed a great dinner and conversation.

Ironically, 29 Palms was my first infantry duty station and it was strange to be back there after so many years. I was stationed with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines for almost 6 years and enjoyed several combat deployments with that unit; Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Saudi Arabia/Kuwait and Operation Restore Hope, Somalia.

After an evening of enjoying the desert, it was time to head back to CamPen for final separation procedures and the finalization of my DD214. This was all completed on 6 Aug (Thu) so I rented a car and drove to AZ to visit my brother, Christian, before my flight out of Phoenix to Sioux Falls, SD on 9 Aug (Sun).

Retirees keep reminding me of several things that accompany separation from the military.
1. It will be a difficult transition
2. You will miss the Marines

I am still waiting for either one of those to occur.

29 Jul-2 Aug: SAYONARA OKINAWA and ALOHA HAWAII!!!

29 Jul was the day I left Okinawa headed for Hawaii for a few days of rest and relaxation before I moved on to Camp Pendleton, CA to start my separation process.

United Airlines treated me very well by giving me a complimentary upgrade for my retirement flight. This was the first time I flew in the top deck of a 747. I don't recommend it because it is VERY noisy. Other than that, it was a very pleasant flight. I have to admit, I was more than ready to depart Japan.

Upon arriving in HI I was met by Lubka and we then travelled to Kailua where I spent the next few days catching up with friends and enjoying the beach. Lubka had some last minute things to take care of because she was scheduled to fly back to our "house" in Okinawa the same day I was to depart for CA.

I left for Camp Pendleton (via LAX) on 2 Aug (Sun). Lubka's flight was cancelled and she enjoyed HI for a few more days before returning to Okinawa.

See the next post for updates on the CA trip.