Hello from Europe

Current Air Force, stationed in Europe. On the tail end of my career. As I near retirement and prepare to start looking towards what I want to do after I leave the military, I reflect back on what I've survived over the course of my military career. There's obviously been Iraq and Afghanistan, Hurricane Katrina, I was in Japan for the 9.0 quake and tsunami, Obama, gov't shutdown. All these were either non-issues or short term situations. I've come to realize that I am ill prepared for anything serious or long term.

I also see the writing on the wall. I am not an apocalyptic worry wart. I don't see a zombie apocalypse or a nuclear winter coming in my lifetime of my son's. Regardless, I've always had the mentality of prepare for the worst and hope for the best. It's gotten me this far in life and we've lived quite comfortably on that, and I've been successful in my career in life using that mentality.

I haven't been back in the US for almost a decade. Always stationed overseas. Not liking what I read in the news or social media. Just seems to me that American society as a whole is going in the wrong direction. Europeans and the Japanese are friendlier, more polite, courteous. Not saying ALL Americans are dirt bags, but I'll be frank - the though of sending my kid back to the US to college after he spent most of his life overseas worries me. I've been preparing him, telling him that most Americans are pretty blunt, more "out there" then what he's experienced. It's going to be a huge culture shock for him. Hell, it will for me when I go back quite honestly.

Anyways, I'm not going to lie - I'm Air Force. I'm sure I got some dirt chewers and squids around here. I can handle ya'll. I've rolled with ya. Most of my deployments were with Army, either joint taskings or ILO supports. I carried my own, but I don't profess to be a Solider by any means. I'm still a Chair Force guy. So I have a lot to learn, and that's why I am here. I can look at Youtube videos all day long, and I intend to. I'll get out and practice, practice, practice. But I also intend to read up here, ask questions, and get advice. Gonna start small, basic kits, backpacks, etc til I get back to the States. Once I settle in, buy a house, then I'll move towards long term solutions and whatnot.

I got 4 yrs left of service, and I'm going to try to keep them overseas, but right now they have me going back to the States in two years. So right now I just plan for two.

Anyways that's me. Thanks for having me.