So it’s July and on the 13th I’ll turn 62. Who would have thunk it, that I would have made it to 62. When I enlisted in the Navy in 1964 for four years only, my plan was to get out and make it big or at least get out. At the end of my time with a short timer’s chain in my pocket, CWO3 Frank Elkins ask me what were my plans? Scratching my head I said damn if I know. He pointed out that the ship (USS Alstede AF-48) was heading to the Med. A week after I was to be discharged, and it was summer time and I could get $3,000.00 and have two weeks leave in Spain (Palma) for just signing up for 4 more years. Sounded like a good deal to me, there I was back on the ship, broke and heading towards retirement.

 So then its retirement time and I was down in Puerto Rico, and decided I needed a year off prior to returning to the work-a-day world. The year went by quickly and I found myself in Europe selling Encyclopedias’ from Scotland to Italy. Easy job, and sold three sets a week and made $2,100.00 tax free each week. I could have sold more but why bother I was making enough to party on. Then winter set in and I quit and went back to Puerto Rico, because warm is good. Thank God I kept the Condo in Playa Azule!

 So a few months after I was back, I was on the beach having cocktails, thinking about happy hour which started a 3pm when the daily rain storm starts. So with a few Cuba Libras’ under my belt (or shorts) I loaded up my Boom box and cooler on my American Flyer red wagon and headed to my friend watering hole (Rascal’s Pub Luquillo Beach). On the way there I saw the Old Dona who sold the Lottery Tickets every day, and gave her my last three dollars for my donation to the cause. (I ran a tab at my friends bar)   The next day I check the numbers and found I won $25,000.00. And its tax free in Puerto Rico, ya gotta' love it!  So I did just what any retired sailor would do, opened a bar!

So then along came Hurricane Hugo and I went from Hero to Zero in 24 hours, bar underwater, house under more water, and the condo wind damaged . Fly to the states and apply to Military Sealift Command, First Ship USNS Mars T-AFS-1 and we pull in to Manila, went to Olongapo with a friend and met his wife’s sister, and that’s why I choose to live here.

So my point is, I feel bad, and the reason is, I never made a plan. I just enjoyed each day and waited to see what would happen the next day. Correction, I made plans every day in my working life, hell the Navy and MSC kind of required it. But my personal live, I just let unfold and adjusted when I needed to. (Ask any of the X-wife’s) Quote of the day: Divorce is when you’re in the mood to buy a new house.

So that is why I choose to live in the Philippines, because plans are a violation of the law here. It just isn’t done, highly frowned upon. Yet after all that, I do have a plan for today after I finish typing this dribble, I plan to have a cocktail and listen to Country Music. Isn’t that why we all choose to live here, and those who don’t, wish they did! Don’t even try to stop the carnival, viva la fiesta.