Has been the primary theme of my life over the past few months (if not longer).
Take this blog for example. Last posting was in January of 2009, prior to my furlough from the illustrious regional carrier based in Atlanta, owned by a company headquartered in the land of Salt Lake.
Since that time I spent a number of months on unemployment seeking stable employment, one outside sales job later, I found a good retail sales position with a leading telecommunications company. This position provided good benefits, healthy commission structure, and the joys of working inside while also offering the silliness that comes with dealing with people directly day-in-and-day-out. I have also managed to complete my undergraduate degree in political science from Troy University.
I have managed to keep in touch with a number of people I worked with while on active duty with the Air Force during this period as well. Toward November of last year I managed to find out about a comfortable Air Force Reserve position located once again in Sumter, SC - or more appropriately - Shaw AFB, SC. This position would provide living quarters, GA BAH, BAS, and daily per diem - and best of all - it was an E-5 (SSgt) billet position.
The requirement? Re-enlist in the Air Force Reserves for four years. And agree to forecast weather again. It being a weather forecasting position of course.
Towards the end of winter - around February 28th - I executed my opportunity to take advantage of the new position.
While the retail world has been enjoyable, it has largely become a pain in my side as I have grown extremely burnt out and am no longer motivated by the greed in which most sales people depend on to stay hungry for the sale. Knowing this, I had to aggressively determine what I should do over the next year.
The enlistment in the reserve unit does not require one to go on active duty orders, but the opportunity did exist and as such I'll be working out of South Carolina for the next year. During this time we (wife and I) will be aggressively trying to get our financial house is better order for some future plans we want to move forward on - principally purchasing land and building a house.
Beyond this blog, knocking the dust off of my meteorological skills will be quite entertaining. Only time will tell if I can still hack it.
Speaking of hacking it, after what has felt like a lifetime, I have been able to get back out and play some golf. Ashley has taken quite the liking to the game over the past few years. With her growing enthusiasm for the game, I decided now was a good time to get her some sticks of her own. We've been playing every few weeks now and she is getting a good grasp on the game and enjoying it as far as I can tell.
Over the next few months you'll begin to follow my journey while I'm back on active duty, playing golf, and potentially returning to general aviation flying.
All the best...
