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The below states are where I've lived or traveled to/through, in the Continental United States.
(NOTE: Some countries are mentioned, but they'll be covered on their own separate pages, with photos, maps, etc.)
Texas
I was born in McCamey, Texas in October 1949. WWII had been over for less than 5 years, my Dad, an Army veteran, was discharged, married my mom in 1947 and began working in the oil fields. The sequence was like this: drill an oilwell, move to another city and drill another one; repeat. This went on, and on, and on. They (we, after I was born) moved all over Southwest Texas, living in various cities like McCamey, Brownfield, Brownsville, Odessa, Kermit, etc. Following the big rigs, the family moved to:
New Mexico
I lived in many cities and small towns in New Mexico, still following rigs. Various cities were Lovington, Tatum, Hobbs, Artesia, Carlsbad, Lovington (again), Tatum, etc. (We moved back to cities we'd lived in before as often as we moved on to new ones; Lovington is just an example.) We eventually moved back to Kermit, Texas for a brief bit, then on to:
Oklahoma
The first town I lived in, in Oklahoma, was Lindsay (population then about 5,000), and then we moved 7 miles West to Bradley, Oklahoma (population then, aprox. 295). The summer after my Junior year in highschool, an aunt and uncle (one of my Dad's brothers) that live in Washington state drove down and took me and my cousin (from another of my Dad's brothers that lived in Wyoming) back to Washington state with them to stay for the summer. We drove from Oklahoma up through Kansas, Wyoming (picking up my cousin), and South Dakota (where we saw Mt. Rushmore), then across Nebraska, Utah, Idaho, and into Washington state. Somewhere in that trip we spent a week in Yellowstone National Park. At the end of summer, my grandparents (my Dad's parents) drove us back, going down through Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. I graduated from Bradley Highschool, actually a 10 room school, comprising headstart through the 12th grade) in 1968. I graduated as Senior Class President and Salutatorian (ranking 3rd of 10 seniors ~ we had co-valdictorians). I married shortly after graduation, and a different "we" left in the fall of 1968 for:
Texas
In Dallas, where I began an electronics technical 'trade' school (graduated in 1970), and in the period from 1968 to 1972, we had 2 children (a girl and a boy). Following graduation, I started a brief career at Texas Instruments (at the Richardson Plant). After 3 years there, I began feeling too 'locked down' in that life. I was young: a 22 year old man, with two children, and was beginning to feel destined (read doomed) to spend the next 40 years of my life living in the same town, working in the same job. I was young. I wanted to see the world. I gave notice and talked to an Air Force recruiter. Thus in May 1972, I began my military career. After basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas and a brief technical school at Lowry AFB, Colorado, my first duty assignment was in:
Louisiana
I was assigned to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, living in Bossier City, La., across the river from Shreveport. Wasn't there long, until I was sent on temporary duty to Anderson AFB, GUAM. (Of course, this was during the Viet Nam war.) After a 4 months of a six month tour of duty, I returned to Bossier City, because I had permanent orders... back to Anderson AFB, Guam. Guam was then a 15 month unaccompanied tour for low-ranking G.I.'s like me (I couldn't take my family with me). I only stayed there 12 months. Due to an accident, I twisted my leg, rotating my kneecap 180° so it was directly behind the knee joint. What was to have been a temporary medical evacuation back stateside for surgery turned into a three month stay, cancelling the assignment and generating new orders for permanent assignment (back) to Lackland AFB, Texas. There, I completed my first 3 years in the military, making me eligible to cross-train into something new (with a higher re-enlistment bonus). I filed for cross-training immediately, and got my wish.
Hawaii
Technically, I've been to Hawaii six times: coming and going to Guam (temporary duty, permanent move, and one 'vacation leave travel.') In reality, I never had time to even leave the airport... But I was there! Anyhow, back to that cross-training wish. I left Texas for:
Colorado
This time, I had a lengthly stay at Lowry AFB, Colorado, and got to enjoy the rocky mountains, state parks, and national forrests. I made the most of the time there, spending every free weekend (when I wasn't studying ~ the school had over a 50% wash-out rate) traveling and camping out. After graduation (yes, I made it, but the predicted washout rate was accurate), I received my first 'new' assignment to:
South Carolina
At Shaw AFB, South Carolina, I was living near Sumpter, SC., about an hour's drive West of Columbia, SC., the capital. Also within easy driving range was Charlotte, North Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia and the Carolina coast. I spent most weekends in either Charlotte or Atlanta, and when broke, in either Columbia or on the coast (Myrtle Beach or Charleston). Also while there, there were numerous Temporary Duty assignments where I got to travel, travel, travel. However, I won't discuss them. Nothing lasts forever, and wasn't long until I got reassigned overseas to West Germany. From there, I came back, to (of all places) Lackland AFB, Texas. You already know I was born in Texas, went to Basic Training in Texas, and was assigned to Lackland AFB once before, so I won't bore you any more with Texas. From there, I was reassigned, overseas again, naturally, to Turkey. From Turkey, I went to:Blytheville AFB, Arkansas... just a hop from Gosnell, Ar. where I lived and about 5 miles North of the big city (read small farming town) of Blytheville, AR., itself. Fortunately, Blytheville is only an hour and a half from Memphis, Tennessee, which is where I got my first taste of that city. I partied there frequently and made some wonderful lifelong friends during this assignment. From Blytheville, I received orders to report to Hellenikon AB, Greece (Athens, Greece). After two years there, I was sent to:
Minot AFB, North Dakota. You hear horror stories about North Dakota. They even made a movie up there. All the horror stories you've ever heard, i.e. slogans such as: "-40° F keeps the riff-raff out," "Why not Minot? Freezin's the reason," "In North Dakota, a gopher can stand flat-footed, and spot another gopher 5 miles away... but does he call? No!" etc., doesn't tell half the story. However, I will say this: that little Air Force Base... about 12 miles North of Minot, N.D. other than the cold, bleak winters... is one of the best kept secrets in the Air Force. It's a dream assignment provided you dress warm, and don't mind shoveling snow six months out of the year.
The day I set foot in North Dakota, I knew I'd probably complete my military service there. My 'short range' goal was to finish my bachelor's degree. I completed my 20th year of military service in May of 1992 and put in for retirement. I stayed another year and finished my bachelor's degree (after 5 years, you get used to the cold) at Minot State University in May 1993, applied for graduate school at Memphis State University, then for my 'retirement,' moved to:
My 'long range' goal had been to attend graduate school in Memphis. That goal was easy to make: I had already seen the campus, knew the city, and made good friends there. It was more like 'coming home,' than going to yet another new (and strange) location.
Well, I moved here in May of 1993, graduated with my masters from the University of Memphis in 1995, and here I still am. I expected to find someone either during grad school or shortly afterwards, and "together" we'd make plans based on 'his' career. I've been in this one city longer than I've been in any other place in my entire life (almost 10 years) and still haven't found anyone. So, yes, I'm ready to move again. Any ideas where?