It is finally official - and other misc. ramblings

Yesterday I received (although it was e-mailed out last week) my official orders transferring me to the "Retired Ready Reserve". I am officially a full time civilian again! \o/ Twenty Two years seems like a long time, I feel too young to be retired from anything, and too be honest - if my priorities were not as they are, I would not have retired. I am not going to miss the extra time away in the short term... but in a year from now... I am not so sure. One thing I do know is that there is no going back. If anyone who reads this is thinking about 20 years in the National Guard (I cannot speak for the other reserves, but I believe things are similar for them), even with things as they are now - it will not be like this all the time, the benefits in retirement will be worth the time invested - IMO. I will have a health insurance policy that is cheaper, and better than my current policy through my full time employer, I will have a small paycheck, and I will have access to essentially an "exclusive" club that I can arrange vacations, etc. through. Sort of like what some companies, neighborhoods, and universities already do. Unfortunately most of that does not kick in until I am 60. I am just glad it will be there when I get there, but just in case I set it up that if something should happen to me before then my beloved will begin to draw it immediately. While we were away on our vacation the movie "Good Soil" arrived from R.A.G.E. media. With a slightly confused look on my beloved's face I explained what it was about. She shrugged her shoulders and smirked. Women, they never understand us men! ;-) I have watched it twice since we got home late Tuesday night! A very well done picture IMO. I hope to post a review of it here soon. My outline for my book is pretty much done in hard copy form. I have notes spread throughout an old "leader's book" I have left over from the Guard. I have six characters in a rough outline form. What I am kind of working on now is the 'motivations', if you will, of how they all interact. Not all are main characters, but I am pretty sure I will need a few more support cast. I've never done this before, but I am interested in how far I will actually take this project. Verse for today: Proverbs 18 : 1-4, ESV Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.