I took a commission in the Navy out of college, and drove ships for a few years until I decided I wanted to spend more of my life on dry land with people I cared about. Working nine months a year sounded great, so I got a teaching credential in science. I stayed in the Navy Reserve and actually got sent back to the Middle East a couple times (Kuwait and Iraq). Left teaching for a few years after the first deployment, and got into massage therapy. Taught at a massage college for a couple of years before getting sent to Iraq as a military historian to document the coalition efforts there. I came home in 2009 and picked up a job teaching history at a health care themed high school, where I've been ever since. I will probably finally retire from the Navy in the coming year after 32 years of service.
Camping trips and all-night games of capture-the-flag on the far edge of camp. The beach, and snorkeling back before the oil spills. Taking the bus to Khobar to buy cassette tapes and flimsy switchblades.