As written by Donald Stanley Trayes (3.238, child i) December 5, 1999: BEGIN I was born Oct 23, 1949, joined the US Navy in 1968, I can never remember when I did not plan on joining when I finished school! My father offered to help me go to a technical school after high school and learn a trade, any trade as long as It would support me later in life, I declined his offer and reminded him I was enlisting in the Navy. He said OK...a few years later he offered the same deal to my brother, he took It! He went to a technical school for electronics close to NYC, starting installing/repairing main frames as big as refrigerators, in 73, been doing it even since making some good bucks. Back to me...got out of the Navy in 1973, joined the reserves, was a firefighter for 7 years, watched too many retire at 65 and drop dead. At the time I was turning 30 a light went on, the Navy was taking vets who had supervisor experience, back in at the same paygrade they held, so I went back in and retired in 94 with 26 years for pay. Have two houses paid for, one is a rental in Charleston, SC and one I live in here. I got out and went to work for the Florida Department of Corrections at a prison not too far from here, all they wanted to do was work, and work you. Overtime was nice for someone who wanted It but I didn't, so I got burnt out after two years and decided to retire again. It's been just about 2 years since I last worked. I still look though. I've found age discrimination is all over! Don't want a 50 year old to do anything. So now I found the American Victory freighter was there on Saturday and going again on Tuesday and Wednesday. Also If I'd been working I wouldn't of been able to go to Europe for 3 weeks in 98 and 99! Planning another journey to England and Sicily in early 2000. The flight is free courtesy of the US Air Force, stay at Bed & Breakfasts mostly around $15.00 a day in the country and in London I paid about $30.00 a night. What I eat and souvineers I spent $500 in 98 and about $700 this year. But I rented a car this time the other times took trains and the bus. I might add I'm also divorced and still dating with no plans for another wife, at least no time soon. So I don't need that much money. Everything I have is paid for and I save till I have enough to purchase any major purchases. END As written by Donald Stanley Trayes (3.238, child i) December 6, 1999: BEGIN I put resume in after resume in after I retired in 95, I really have come to believe the only way to get a job when ur older is to network with someone, Job Service is no help at least here in Florida It wasn't I got tired of going there, found out that the service is free to u but that the firms pay them, and as such they send u everywhere, I told them up front I wasn't qualified for more than one job they said go anyway! Waste of my time and the company's. I was married then, so I was in the service with a friend here in town, and he got me a job at a local hospital in security to tide me over till the prison job came through, I was up front with the hospital that I was only using it as a step to the prison, they said no problem, said there turnover is high anyway, I stayed 4 months when I resigned I saw what they met, I was moving up along the chain of command. I got to the prison stayed there 2 years going on 3. One of the bonus's from that job that If I stayed 2 years I pick up another 5% on my US Navy retirement check when i turn 62. Prison was the same way, It paid $11.00 to start, and the turnover was huge! They recruited ex military as much as they could, It takes a special type person to work behind bars and 16' chain link fences topped with razor wire. I enjoyed it actually! When I resigned up there, it was to take care of my mother, she started going down hill in late 97, and died in May of 98. I felt guilty not being around them (my parents) when I was an adult, so I packed my bags and moved to Pennsylvania and stayed there till she passed away. The last 8 months she was in an assisted living facility, we tryed to get her (my brother) to go into one when dad died in 90 she wouldn't hear of it. In 97 she couldn't do the stairs anymore, and quit driving, and she finally moved, when she got there she had so much fun she said we should of made her go into on in 1990! She met so many folks in the same situation and she loved everyday there. END