New Here: Army Guy on a Boat

[tmvick]

Howdy,
My name is Todd and I have been in the Army for over 24 years. I am currently stationed at Ft Meade, MD and live on my boat in the Chesapeake Bay. My family is in North Georgia as this is my last tour because I am putting in my retirement paperwork for March of 2013.


When I leave here it will be by boat next March. I will be running "Officer's Quarters", my 43ft Viking MY down the ICW then across to the Bahamas with my father and my wife will catch up with us there. I plan on about a month just lazing around, scuba diving, fishing, and seeing as many coves, islands, and towns as possible in the Bahamas. From there it will be off to the Keys for about a week and then up thru the Tombigbee Waterway to get me to the Tennessee River and home to Chattanooga. I think it will be a great 2 month vacation before I will have to then get a real job.


I plan on lurking on this site (sometimes posting if I can help) and asking questions about my route, what to provision, spots to see, what to watch for, and where to stay. At the end I hope to have a good blog site and then will be able to share my thoughts and experiences with others.


HOOAH,
Todd


GO ARMY

[Nemo55]

Welcome aboard tmvick, and many thanks for your service to home and country.

[DeborahLee]

Good luck on your retirement. To do all you plan in 2 months you might want to think about a cigarette boat. Remember the most dangerous thing on a boat is a schedule.

[Geoduck]

Todd - thanks for your service!
Ex Army myself, Vietnam 68-69, 100% disabled. Service officer since '99.
Life is good - sailing is life!
Welcome aboard!

[Johnny Cruiser]

Originally Posted by tmvick

Howdy,
My name is Todd and I have been in the Army for over 24 years. I am currently stationed at Ft Meade, MD and live on my boat in the Chesapeake Bay. My family is in North Georgia as this is my last tour because I am putting in my retirement paperwork for March of 2013.


When I leave here it will be by boat next March. I will be running "Officer's Quarters", my 43ft Viking MY

HOOAH,
Todd


GO ARMY

Welcome to CF Todd!

At least your pay has gotten better. Remember when I got >$88 month while in basic and $321 as an O-1 at the start of the "Scenic Tour" of SE Asia! Had thought 20 but was discharged for disability due to combat injuries with 3 1/2 left on my 6 yr tour. Guess was lucky but the "check" comes every month! LOL! Due to your boat's name was wondering what will be your "grade" upon retirement?

Great idea of a blog for other newbies to learn from or enjoy!
Thanks for your service!

John

[Johnny Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Geoduck

Todd - thanks for your service!
Ex Army myself, Vietnam 68-69, 100% disabled. Service officer since '99.
Life is good - sailing is life!
Welcome aboard!

Geoduck,
Thanks for your service too!
They sent me home @ 60%. Depending on month you got there my last and your early months perhaps overlapped.

Agree with your "Life is good - sailing is life! quote!

John

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Todd.

[Vyndance]

Welcome Todd and Thank-You

[Rhapsody-NS27]

Another Army person here. I have 6yrs left before I can retire. With the way things are going lately, I just hope it's still intact by that time. I'm looking at taking a year off when I retire. Then, I'll figure out what I'm going to do.
Welcome to CF and enjoy your trip.

[Waterway Guide]

Welcome aboard, Todd! And thanks for your service. You may want to rethink your schedule and try to take more time, especially if you plan to cover that much ground (whoops, I mean "water"). Enjoy the journey!

[tmvick]

Thanks to everyone's well wishes, thanks of service, and advice. Good luck Dan and thank you all of our veterans.

I served 14 years making SFC and then jumping ship to the officer ranks and am retiring as a Major.

My trip will be almost 3 months in all. I was just trying to say that a month in the Bahamas and a week in the Keys and everything else is flexible.

[Johnny Cruiser]

Originally Posted by tmvick

Thanks to everyone's well wishes, thanks of service, and advice. Good luck Dan and thank you all of our veterans.

I served 14 years making SFC and then jumping ship to the officer ranks and am retiring as a Major.

tmvick,
Truly your boat is well named as "Officer's Quarters"

John

[Weyalan]

Welcome aboard, and good luck with your plans.

I don't really know how it works, but I'm guessing that with 24 years "in" and a retiring rank of major, you'd be getting a decent pension. Living aboard can be as cheap as you want to be... don't hurry your vacation is what I'm saying!

[rebelreck]

Hi Todd, Welcome. Ex Army Myself. Thank You for Your service. Congrats on Your new career as a civie. Good Luck and have fun!

[Wench'sCaptain]

Hi, Todd and welcome aboard. I am retired army myself (1989). Someone gave you the best advice you can get. NEVER sail with a schedule. Pick your weather windows carefully.