I will be 55 years old on the 25th of September. I joined the Navy in 1981 when I was 17 years old. I did my first four years and got out. Two years later I went back in and served another 20 1/2 years. I was still on retirement leave when I was hired at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 10 years ago this past May. My wife joined the Navy when she was 17 also. She did 21 1/2 years and retired a couple of years before I did. She started working at St. Jude one week before I did. We have now reached the point where if we sell our current home we will be able to live comfortably on our military retirement income, so on Monday I turned in my resignation/notice of retirement. My last day at St. Jude will be 31 August. We will be putting our house in Tennessee up for sale very shortly. As soon as it sells we will be paying cash for a small house in the woods bordering Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri. The place we found is only 8 acres, but it is surrounded by forest land. We walked the perimeter of half of it and found multiple deer trails and a few deer beds. The other half has a trail that goes to a food plot that borders a great bedding area. Also, this place is only 30 minutes from where we have our annual family hunt. I can't help wondering what it will be like to wake up every morning, get a shower, a cup of coffee and think "what do I WANT to do today". I'm pretty excited about this.
Congrats you earned it. My wife and I have been thinking and talking about selling the ranch since last fall, not retiring at least not me. I like the idea of living on the water in Florida but I will admit I really do not want to leave our place.
I can understand why some people like the idea of living on the beach, but there is no way anyone could convince me to live near an ocean. I've seen enough ocean and beaches to last me a lifetime. Give me some forest land, and the farther away from civilization the better.
True and part of my reluctance to leave I have the ultimate in wooded privacy a 1/2 mile drive way from a road, I can go outside in my underpants and nobody could see me. Granted I have not been in the Navy but I have spent a lot of time on the water both freshwater and salt big part of it that as I get older I hate winter more every year.
Congrats man, great accomplish! But I guess it is time for you to move, you have already shot all the deer in Tennessee! Sent from my SM-G900V using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
You certainly should be excited! You've worked hard for a long time, now you get to reap the rewards. Best of luck to you and your wife.
Hope the banjo music in the background does not make you crazy. I went down on a fire detail around the Mark Twain you can see some "country" stuff driving around the area.
There's lots of great things in that area. Some great ozark streams to float and fish and ton's of conservation and federal lands. Deer are typically on the smaller side down there(Compared to Northern Missouri), but generally in good numbers. You won't be too far from the new Elk herd as well.
I know those donks from the cities are real jerks. Come on I was making a joke but also I have cruised the hollors around Poplar Bluff and a little closer to Branson you can not deny that it is a little methy/sketchy etc.
I was also making a joke. I know some folks from the Twin Cities. They are fine, but there are some wierdo's up there too. I would agree, there's some rough edges down that way.
Good on ya, old salt. I was born and raised in Hermann, MO. You are really going to enjoy Mark Twain. Great fishing, hunting and folks are pretty laid back around there. Plus, you are just a short distance from Swiss Meat and Sausage company, grand national champion bacon and the absolute best german venison bologna you will ever eat. On a personal note, thank you for not only your service to our country but working at St. Judes, lots of good people doing lots of good work.
Sweet! Nice to know that dreams do come true. Your plans are not far away from what I hope to do in the retirement phase. All I have to do is raise these kiddos first... Congrats and enjoy the heck out of getting to explore the woods.
Congrats LittleChief! Well earned I'd say. Also , MANY thanks to you and the Missus for your service, both in the Navy and at St. Jude's. Remarkable work done there. You will enjoy retirement immensely. I retired a year ago and have not stopped smiling since. We moved close to the three (now four) Granddaughters and see them several times a week now. What a joy! Congrats again. I couldn't be happier for you and your wife.
Congratulations brother! You've led a life of selfless service, and I wish you nothing but the very best retirement one could dream of! Thank you for your life long service to our country. EDIT: Excuse me, But thank you to your wife for her selfless service as well!
