23 January 2009

They Won't Have Nixon to Kick Around Anymore!

Me After One Day as a "Civilian"

Considering my political leanings, it would be a "convenient truth" if I were getting out of the Navy because of Obama's inauguration, but I made this decision long ago in about 2006 while on my second deployment somewhere underwater in the Pacific. I'm grateful there's people that stay in and go on to become senior officers, but it's not for me. I don't hate the Navy or anything, and I hope people out there consider serving in the Armed Forces or consider making the military a career. The best way to describe it is kind of like the Zipper ride at the state fair: Lots of ups and downs, you vomit up corn dogs, some angry carney yells at ya, glad to see it in the rear view mirror, but you're happy you did it. Tomorrow is where I get to hear the two sweetest words in the English language: "Honorable Discharge".

35 comments:

Sisu said...

Definitely you after 20 minutes at Bob's Java Jive. Woohoo! You need a shirt that says, "got DD-214?"

Brandon Friedman said...

Congrats. It's a weird feeling driving out of the gate for the last time. So what's next? School? Job? General disillusionment?

Nixon said...

Hopefully, non-profit work in Bangkok...more on that later. But, yeah it'll be weird. Although, I still have a year or IRR time...who know what'll happen.

Murphy said...

Congrats!

Long-time RN said...

Congratulations!

Bag Blog said...

Change is good if not a bit scary. When making decisions "what the hell" is usually good.

Anonymous said...

So when are you coming home, LT? We'll leave the light on for you.

Love,
Mom

Unknown said...

Thank you for your service! Congrats!
AM

Anonymous said...

Congatulations. I CLEARLY remember the day I signed out on terminal leave, and got my DD-214. I walked out of central outprocessing and threw that gay-ass beret in the trash can. Some MAJ yelled at me as I was walking across the parking lot to my truck, and when I held up my DD-214, he shut his mouth and kept walking. 20 years of putting up with bullshit rules, (face it, some rules ARE bullshit) and that was the only transgression I ever made.

Wek said...

Congrats man! You should have set up a Paypal account so that we could have paid for a night of drinking and a 1/2 dozen hookers.

Susan Katz Keating said...

COngratulations! Thank you for your service to our country, and for your dedication to our troops!

Susan Katz Keating said...

COngratulations! Thank you for your service to our country, and for your dedication to our troops!

Susan Katz Keating said...

COngratulations! Thank you for your service to our country, and for your dedication to our troops!

Anonymous said...

If Thailand doesn't work out there is always room for you in the contracting world. I know, yuck!

Mike said...

Enjoy the retirement.

Anonymous said...

All the best, LT Nixon!

I hope this doesn't mean that you're gonna stop blogging.

Anonymous said...

Awww, please answer your mom!

So I guess I say congrats??? I mean, it's what you want, so I'm happy for you. But it's weird after so many years, isn't it?

Have fun no matter what.

Kath

J. said...

Congrats - make sure you get the brief on how to dress for business after retirement... most important part of initiating those post-military careers.

Anonymous said...

Congrats...I AM JEALOUS...

Lisa said...

Congratulations. Best of luck in your transition -- it sounds like you have some wonderful, meaningful and challenging lined up.

Please don't stop blogging. I have enjoyed your very unique voice -- an unusual reasoned voice in the midst of an otherwise knee-jerk conservative community. I believe you are a true "middle-of-the-roader," in a time of unfortunate hard partisanship.

Let's hope for a return to the brave act of thinking.

Max said...

Congratulations Tray,
The "Mick" once told me that you meet all sorts of people while in the service. The ones that you want to keep in touch with are also the same people that you would enjoy working with once the uniforms are gone. You're definitely someone I'd like to work with again, class act all the way.

I see good things for you in the future; especially Thailand. If you're not doing anything in 2010, I'd like to extend an invitation for you to return to the rock; Connery style. ;)

Best Wishes!

Caroline said...

Congrats LT and thank you for your service! Have fun in Thailand...don't catch anything a good dose of penicillin can't cure.

Nixon said...

Thanks everybody, very kind words.

Anonymous said...

I once had a carnie try to force me into a zipper car that was doused in vomit. I stood my ground though. Good luck. We'll miss you when you move on and forget us. :-)

Girl in the Middle said...

So should we call you MISTER Nixon now??? Enjoy your freedom, you earned it. Please don't abandon your readers - we need you!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, MISTER Nixon!

Stay AWAY from those Seattle Skanks you so longingly wrote about in the past. I also wouldn't recommend Thailand, the Feds wrote laws against Sex Tourism, and they (we) enforce them. On the other hand, maybe you SHOULD go seek out those Seattle Skanks.

Best of luck to you in whatever future you choose to pursue, whether it be simply relieving physical needs, or employment. Go to it, son, you've earned it.

Your friend,
509th Bob

Jarrod said...

Congrats, bro. Good luck out there!

Alex Horton said...

Welcome to the IRR Brigade! Commence irrational fears of thick brown envelopes in your mailbox.

I hope you enjoy Thailand. You deserved it. Congratulations.

Anonymous said...

Best of luck. You'll need it. You were a shitty J.O.

Love,
Your FAV DH

Anonymous said...

Thank YOU! That's all! ;)

Jamie said...

Congrats Lt Nixon, now go visit your mom!

Jason said...

Congrats!

Mike said...

Congrats and thanks, (former) LT.

Anonymous said...

Great, another dumbass civilian into the mix of things...

Congratulations!!

MezzoCO said...

Belated congrats, Mr. Nixon :)