What Now?

Yesterday we were a Navy family.  Today we are a retired Navy family.  Interesting word, retirement.  It conjures up images of old people, golf carts, pinochle, free coffee at McDonalds and RV travel.  We are not old (40, 37, 10 and almost 9), we don't own a golf cart, we have no idea how to play pinochle and while not opposed to free coffee, we still have many full price years left.  RV travel, on the other hand, is something we can blog about. 

Nearly a year ago we unexpectedly found out we would be medically retiring due to severe PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) caused by a near drowning experience during a Naval training known as the "helo-dunk.".  Since finding out about the retirement we kept asking ourselves and each other "What Now?" over and over.  Being a Navy Chaplain is a highly specialized job, requiring a bachelor's degree and a four year Master of Divinity.  You can't just switch jobs.  The obvious answer to "What Now?" would seem to be "take a civilian pastorate."  Great idea but not an option because of the severe PTSD.  So, we began to think outside the box and came up with the idea of buying an RV and traveling the US for a year with our two boys and our two dogs, a neurotic Weimaraner named Shakespeare and a certified Service Dog named Holly.  In taking a year off to travel as a family we hope to arrive at the answer to "What Now."  Our immediate goals are to live authentically, to love each other, and enjoy each day as it comes.

Where are we headed first, you ask?  The answer is, we don't know yet!  We send our household goods to storage in Montana this week and then we will decide.  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is running at the top of the list but please, we invite you to travel vicariously with us and follow where the road takes us!