[Closed] Question for the Lounge Lizards: I'm not aware if this has ever been asked but it would be

David, I too feel for your loss.

My prayers and sympathy to you David. I love my 4 younger siblings very much.

Joe ... Thank you for your service to this Country -- I salute your sir.

I still need to schedule some time to come down and see you and your diecast collection

I wish you would come down. Anyone in the area has an open invitation to visit.

You really started something Ken. Here goes.

Born and raised in Houston TX; Graduated from the Univ of St Thomas (Houston) in Physics

Attended Navy Officer School; spent 1 year in Okinawa; 1.5
yrs on the USS Mt Whitney in Norfolk; Inactive Reserve until May 1972

Graduated from Texas A&M in Nuclear Engineering (Gig 'Em Aggies)

Worked 25 years at Houston Lighting & Power in the Environmental field. Moved to HL&P parent Reliant Energy office in Las Vegas 2001, directing environmental activities for CA, AZ and NV operations; Company acquired by NRG Energy in 2013, who offered me a package. I took the money and ran. Live in Henderson NV.

Got a NV real estate license in 2014 but set it aside to care for wife who had back surgery last January.

Collect 1:18 diecasts, active in Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild alumni club and spoil our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

DUDE! ... Cavalier King Charles Spaniel???? - They are the best ... one day I'll get one ...

They are so beautiful, smart and great friends to have.

Best friend has one, love that little guy.

Be careful about over-breeded ones.

Ours needed surgery to correct a genetically flawed knee. Fortunately she is fine. X-rays of her spine indicate she may develop arthritis sooner than most dogs. We picked the breed because we had a cat at the time and I wanted the cat to continue to be "the supervisor" of the house. The Spaniel got along well with Kitty. Had to put Kitty down in April because her kidneys were failing - she was 17. Isabella misses her we can tell.

I grew up as a preacher's kid and lived all over Texas. Except my 4 years of high school in

Clovis, NM. Couple of years college in Texas and then 2 years as assistant golf pro at Odessa Country Club and Eastern Hills CC in Garland. Draft Board got after me so enlisted in USAF. Spent 29 years in and retired as a Chief Master Sergeant in '93. Finished college while in the AF with a Business degree. Was stationed in Texas, Illinois, France, England, Oklahoma, Viet Nam, Florida, Belgium, Nebraska, England again and, finally Hawaii. Eight years as a flight line mechanic and then 21 in the Command & Control field. Flew 10 years on Airborne Command Posts in Nebraska and England. Great job. As a retiree, tried Real Estate for a couple of years and ended up hating it. Worked as a 911 dispatcher in southern Oklahoma for 7 years and loved it. Was on a 911 Board for 2 years and then retired again. Play a lot of golf, weather permitting. Started collecting diecast while in England in the 80's and now have a little over 1,100 models, primarily 1:43rd scale. Don't post very often but read the Forum daily.

This is my story...

I was born & raised in SoCal, but graduated high school in Tempe, AZ in 1971; I was served notice for the draft shortly thereafter. As part of the last draft lottery (that actually took inductees), my DOB was assigned #324 & they only took up to #75 that year...there were no more drafts after that.

Eventually, I enlisted in the US Navy (1974) & was initially assigned to the USS Leahy (CG 16) providing naval gunfire support off the coast of Vietnam; those orders were superseded & I was sent to Pre-Comm Unit USS Nimitz (CVAN 68). I served my entire tour of duty aboard Nimitz & was honorably discharged (as an E-5) in 1978.

I took a job that year with Vitro Corp., (now known as BAE Systems) in Silver Spring, MD - they were a DoD contractor supporting the US Navy. In 1992, I went to work for Logicon-Syscon (another DoD contractor) located in Crystal City, VA. In 1998, I went to work for Gryphon Technologies (another DoD contractor, but this time a small, woman-owned (8A) business) located in Washington, DC. I have been with Gryphon ever since, continuing my support of the US Navy. I now have almost 38 years invested in my (civilian) service to the US Navy (plus my 4 years active duty).

I plane to retire within the next few years (probably when I'm 65-67 years old).

I enjoy my job immensely - it has been "right-up-my-alley" so to speak. It has given me experience in many fields including naval radar, combat, gun/missile & (lately) training systems.

I attended the University of Arizona, but dropped out in my senior year. One would think that would've hurt my career, but it hasn't - I earn a very comfy salary & live a very comfortable life. I can't complain.

Took a few years to straighten things out. I'll try and make this a quick time line:
Born 1957 in Camden NJ, raised in the same area, graduated HS in 1975.
Entered the USAF in Sept. 1975, honorable discharge after 2 years, 4 months and 9 days of service.
Returned home to live with parents, worked at a bunch of jobs and partied a lot. 1983 had a car accident (DUI) that was the wake up call to change things.
Enrolled in Technical School with my GI bill to study mechanical drafting and design technology. I've never designed or drawn any kind of widget or "mechanical" part/device.
Took drafting knowledge which was still all done by hand at the time and started working for a small architectural firm, we did everything from single family homes to schools, office buildings, assisted living facilities and the like. Learned a lot.
Met my wife in 1989, we knew each other in junior high back in the early 70's but had since gone our separate ways. We eventually married later in 89.
Had our son in September of 1990, my wife has a daughter from her previous marriage and she has given us three super grandchildren (2 girls, 1 boy).
I've worked for the past 30 years in building design and construction primarily as a structural designer for 5 different firms. I'm also heavily involved in the construction phase of our projects. I've been at my current employer for the past ten years and have worked with my current boss for the past 17.
Still trying to figure out if I retire in 4 years at 62 or 8 years at 66.
My wife works part time and also does pretty well selling antique dolls on Ebay. We hope to travel to Europe when I retire and see her grandparents home village in Italy.
It's been a great ride so far and I don't really have any regrets nor would I change anything.