I was born at Offutt AFB, just outside of Omaha NE.
First conscious memories are while we were living/stationed at Torejon AFB, Madrid Spain. This was during the time of Franco (the last Fascist dictator), who I apparently saw during some of the military parades held in downtown Madrid. All I remember were the bull fights, swimming in the Med, and the fun of living in base housing.
In 1973 we returned stateside to Offutt AFB again, where I attended my first American school. While in Spain I had attended a montessori school of some sort, so I skipped kindergarten and 1st grade when we returned to the US. Had a "girlfriend" in 2nd grade at Avery Elementary school in Bellevue NE, Linnie Lockwood.......then there was Dana Turner in 3rd grade at Belleaire Elementary School ............I don't know why I still remember their names, but in reflection I can see early development of my man-whoreness.
In 1975 we headed out again, this time to Okinawa. Anybody have a time/place in their childhood where all the magic happened and if you could go back and never leave you would? That was Okinawa for me, I had so much fun there. I was forbiddened to be in the boonies because of all the Habus (snakes) and unexploded ordinance left over from WWII. Soooooooo, there was hardly a day you would not find me in the boonies exploring the bunkers and caves the Japanese used to defend the island. I also saw Jaws while on Okinawa, didn't care for the beach after that movie night..........
In 1978 Uncle Sam dropped us in Suckramento CA, stationed at McClellan AFB. It was here that my dad eventually retired and where I graduated from HS and college. Aside from a stint in the US Army, I remained in CA near my parents. Eventually met THE woman, started having kids, bought a house, got married (in that order). As the years passed we were becoming more and more hostages than residents, and hating every moment of existence because of the one party government that dominates California.
After my mom passed away in 2003 I convinced my dad to move to VA in 2007, where he owned property he inherited from my grandmother. All the while my wife and I began plotting to move away ourselves, setting our sights around Lexington KY. Unfortunately the job market in Lexington isn't worth spit.......unless you are a farmer, horse owner, or assembly line laborer. That region of KY just doesn't seem to have a bustling skilled/tech sector to speak of, so after a few years of waiting/searching we turned our attention elsewhere.
In 2010 my wife and I purposely took a major fiscal/credit hit and fled with what we could pack into 5 moving pods (from a PODS competitor), plus a Uhaul, and moved to the United States to a nice rural county located in Central Virginia. We now live in a free county of 15,000 people instead of a prison colony of 1,000,000+ people. Aside from begrudingly going back with my wife to bury her mom when the time comes, I will never set foot in California without really really bad (good in my mind) intent.........
I am not the same person I was 2 years ago. I was consumed by rage and hatred against California. If I could have obtained thermonukes I would have embraced infamy. Now I can laugh at the absurdity that is reported daily out of California and bask in the surplus that Virginia is enjoying for the 3rd year in a row, my kids are FINALLY learning about American history, the people here are genuine, and the 2nd Amendment is staunchly defended and embraced by a majority of the citizens. People here wonder why we picked as we did, and as I explain the differences between life here and the hell back there, my favorite joke is that the only way I will leave is by torches and pitchforks..........
