When Life Gives You Pineapples...

Adamm0621 · October 11, 2011, 04:26:16 AM

I've got less than three months left in Afghanistan, and I just received my follow-on assignment a few days ago. I'll be going to Hawaii next summer! I'm so excited I can barely stand it. For all of the shit I've been dealing with this year, this feels incredible.

The only downside is that it will be difficult to see/visit my son while I'm stationed OCONUS. I figure I'll tackle that obstacle when I come to it. I'm not on orders yet, and assignments can change, but my morale has been through the roof since I found out. This is exactly what I needed... a fresh start.

Between now and when I get to Hawaii I'm going to save every penny I can. I'll get a rat-hole apartment when I get back to Kentucky, since I'll only be there for a few months, and save as much as possible. Hopefully I'll get to Hawaii with close to $20K in the bank. I've got more than a few plans for that money.

For the first time in six years, I'll finally be stationed in a location where I will be able to perform all of my hobbies (scuba, skydiving, motorcycles, and hopefully surfing), I'll have the money to afford it, and now that I'm divorced, I'll have the freedom to do so.

I informed my Ex the other day of my upcoming move, mainly so I can start scheduling time with my son when I get back, and it got very quiet on the other end. Since the day we were married, we both hoped that some day I would get stationed in Hawaii. Now, a little over a month after the divorce was finalized, I come down on orders to my dream assignment. To think... if she would have held out for a few months, she could have been a stay-at-home mom in Hawaii. Now, she's just a single mom in Kentucky. The irony is so thick I could cut it with a knife.

But who cares about her!?! This is my life now! This is finally the impetus that I've been waiting for. If some of you haven't noticed, I've been focusing fairly heavily on my failed marriage and have had a rather bleak outlook on the future these past few months. I knew that at some point I would begin to get past the hurt and the pain, and start to look forward to the prospects in front of me.

This turn of events however, has taken me completely by surprise. I knew that getting stationed in Hawaii was a possibility, but this duty station is usually one that you have to re-enlist for. I'm incredibly grateful, as the opportunities that this could entail are virtually limitless.

Chalk one up for karma...

RAT900 · October 11, 2011, 04:33:38 AM

I cannot think of someone more deserving than you,,,,, given where and what you have been through the past couple of months

A nice geographic cure...AND you don't have the baggage in tow...you'll work out the logistics with your son and he will get to see and know his father

under the best possible circumstances

fastwin · October 11, 2011, 06:40:48 AM

Sweeeeeet! Congrats. Been to Hawaii once in the late 80s with my future ex.

Had a very nice time... except for the 8 hour flight back home. Ever had really BAD food posioning on a 8 hour flight?

Anyway, good for you!

Hope you enjoy it.

Also hope the visits with junior work out. VERY important stuff there.

Punx Clever · October 11, 2011, 06:41:45 AM

Just keep living in a rat hole appartment though... you don't need much to be happy, and raking in an extra 800 a month doesn't hurt. Not sure what paygrade you are... but even an e-6 with no dependants is pushing 2k a month out there, and there are plenty of apartments for around 1100 right near pearl harbor. (I'm secretly hoping for orders to NSYPH myself, don't tell the wife).

77south · October 11, 2011, 07:05:22 AM

W00t! What's not to love? Sun Sand Surf and money in the bank! Ten years ago I visited New Zealand and Australia for a month each, when I had about $20k in the bank. Good times! Best two months of my life.

KnightofNi · October 11, 2011, 07:21:37 AM

So what do you do when life gives you pineapples?
Make pineappleade?

glad to hear you are on the upward swing. Enjoy the new scenery!

duccarlos · October 11, 2011, 07:25:55 AM

You make pina coladas!

zooom · October 11, 2011, 07:32:49 AM

hell, I went to an Adam Sandler film reference at 1st and thought you were going to have a Little Nicky moment and start shoving pineapples up Hitler's ass or something when I read the title...

congrats!

r_ciao · October 11, 2011, 08:12:24 AM

That is so cool for you.

Note that there are very few places to ride fast in Hawaii. Also there's no helmet law and lane sharing is not allowed. But with the sand and surf, the awesome food, the natural beauty and the friendly people, it's almost paradise.

Ciao.

Slide Panda · October 11, 2011, 08:34:00 AM

Get teh skinny from DRKWNG - he was there a good bit of time

IZ · October 11, 2011, 08:35:05 AM

Good news

duccarlos · October 11, 2011, 08:37:22 AM

Quote from: Sad Panda on October 11, 2011, 08:34:00 AM
Get teh skinny from DRKWNG - he was there a good bit of time

Contact Teddy as well.

teddy037.3 · October 11, 2011, 09:20:04 AM

w00t! fingers crossed for luck!

Quote from: King Tut on October 11, 2011, 07:21:37 AM
So what do you do when life gives you pineapples?
Make pineappleade?

you make that delicious, rum-soaked-pineapple drink courtesy of jebus tristos

Quote from: duccarlos on October 11, 2011, 08:37:22 AM
Contact Teddy as well.

bam! someone say my name?

duccarlos · October 11, 2011, 10:50:47 AM

I meant the other, better looking, Hawaiian named Teddy. Sorry dude.

VisceralReaction · October 11, 2011, 11:25:34 AM

[clap]congrats man[clap]

make the beast with two backs Pearl, get out of the rat race and live on the other side like the locals
Kailua or Kaneohe. Course since I lived there its all grown way up.

News:

When Life Gives You Pineapples...

teddy037.3