Finally home, at last.

[Firebird2XC]

I grew up around here. Maybe 15 minutes or so down the highway.
Lewisville, Texas isn't such a bad place, really.

After at least four (or more, depending) long years, I am home.. alone.

I've lived in a tent with 8+ people in a third world country.
A trailer not far from there.

I've lived in smoky apartments when I didn't smoke.

I've lived full time in a crash pad.

I just signed for my keys to 735 square feet of private, carpeted, quiet space.

Home based come the first of February.

Ah, home, at last.

Just wanted to share with everybody.

[Captain_Bob]

Welcome home...

Bob

[Airdale]

Good for you Charlie. There's something to be said about being able to be home. Hopefully I get PHL based out of training and I'll know the feeling again!

Best of luck with the new job!

[Firebird2XC]

Thanks everybody.

[surreal1221]

Congrats indeed.

I know the feeling, after 4+ years away from "home," it was a nice feeling purchasing a home in our "hometown."

Nothing like being around what you know.

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

Congrats indeed.

I know the feeling, after 4+ years away from "home," it was a nice feeling purchasing a home in our "hometown."

Nothing like being around what you know.

Darned right. Not to mention, it's TEXAS.

People are friendly. Gas is less expensive. No state income tax.
Big open skies. Nice weather. And oh, the beeeeaauuuutiful ladies.

One of the best kept secrets in the country has got to be Texas girls.

[ashtonATL]

Welcome home

Just wondering.. I'll be off to one of those wonderful places as a contractor flying UAVs. What are the living conditions like for them? What do you guys do on your down time?

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by ashtonATL

Welcome home

Just wondering.. I'll be off to one of those wonderful places as a contractor flying UAVs. What are the living conditions like for them? What do you guys do on your down time?

That depends...

Can you tell me exactly where you're going? That'd help alot.

[ashtonATL]

Iraq or Afghanistan, they wont tell me anymore than that. Will be at a FOB with the Army.

[jtrain609]

Originally Posted by Firebird2XC

Darned right. Not to mention, it's TEXAS.

People are friendly. Gas is less expensive. No state income tax.
Big open skies. Nice weather. And oh, the beeeeaauuuutiful ladies.

One of the best kept secrets in the country has got to be Texas girls.

Glad you're home maing, but I ain't gonna lie to you; you couldn't pay me to live in Arlington, TX again

Enjoy being home, I know what it's like to not have one (though I don't know much about tents).

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by ashtonATL

Iraq or Afghanistan, they wont tell me anymore than that. Will be at a FOB with the Army.

Eh.. okay. I can generalize for ya.

You'll likely be living in a metal trailer-type housing unit. With or without roommates, depending.

You'll be surrounded by concrete barricades pretty much everywhere you go.

It's gonna be hot, but you'll adapt. Weirdly so- it'll be 120+ during the day, and you'll get used to it. That way, when it dips down to the frigid 80 or 90 degrees at night, you'll actually shiver. Some people wore jackets at night.

Showering and bathroom necessities will be in 'trailer' type installations as well. Make sure you've got a sturdy pair of 'shower shoes' (cheap flip flops).

As far as fun, don't expect to mingle with the locals much, if at all. You'll definitely not be taking a cab down to town for some eats and revelry. Expect a 'recreation center' with computers, table games, TVs, etc. Some of the larger posts have renovated movie theaters and pools.

Do NOT, I repeat DO NOT swim in local bodies of water. Period.

There is no alcohol allowed in country in Iraq. I'm not sure about Afghanistan. Good luck with women, too. The male/female ratio is not good for the single man. Stay away from the local women. That's a great way to get into a huge amount of trouble, too.

I'm not really sure what I could tell you as a generic.. without knowing more about where you're going.

Wear sunblock, and drink water like you're never going to see it again. I know it sounds like a 'typical' advisory, but it really makes a difference.

[ashtonATL]

Thanks for the info, thats pretty much what I thought. Nothing really bothers me except for the no beer part lol.....and it would be nice to have a hand gun while going to and from ... the idea of a helo crash and having no way to defend myself kinda bothers me..

do the fobs get internet?

[Qgar]

Hey, Charlie....Glad to hear you're exactly where you want to be. Good for you and congrats!

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by WildCougar

Hey, Charlie....Glad to hear you're exactly where you want to be. Good for you and congrats!

Thank ya darlin.

If'n you ever find yourself on the Houston side of the op, you might wind up in my neighborhood. Don't be a stranger. : )

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by ashtonATL

Thanks for the info, thats pretty much what I thought. Nothing really bothers me except for the no beer part lol.....and it would be nice to have a hand gun while going to and from ... the idea of a helo crash and having no way to defend myself kinda bothers me..

do the fobs get internet?

Most FOBS have internet of some sort. How much and how limited depends on your locale. If you're with a contractor at a base large enough to have UAVs, you should do well for that.

As for handguns.. I walked around with a 9mm and an M4 my second tour. Guns are a way of life, over there.

[ashtonATL]

thanks man- from what I understand contractors are not allowed to have weapons.. ,kinda stinks

[Qgar]

Originally Posted by Firebird2XC

Thank ya darlin.

If'n you ever find yourself on the Houston side of the op, you might wind up in my neighborhood. Don't be a stranger. : )

Thanks for the offer, I'll definitely take you up on it if I should find myself in your neck of the woods!

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

Glad you're home maing, but I ain't gonna lie to you; you couldn't pay me to live in Arlington, TX again

Enjoy being home, I know what it's like to not have one (though I don't know much about tents).

Yeah... that's why I bypassed Arlington. I'm up in Lewisville. MUCH nicer up here. I don't feel that itchy need to walk around armed like I do in Arlington.

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by ashtonATL

thanks man- from what I understand contractors are not allowed to have weapons.. ,kinda stinks

Depends on what kind of work you do, I suppose. Odds are, you'll never leave the FOB and you won't need small arms anyhow.

[ashtonATL]

trust me, not leaving the fob is just fine with me

I worry about something happening en rout to and from- and having no way to defend myself if nobody else is around.. ..guess its just paranoia

[KLB]

Originally Posted by Firebird2XC

Yeah... that's why I bypassed Arlington. I'm up in Lewisville. MUCH nicer up here. I don't feel that itchy need to walk around armed like I do in Arlington.

Jtrain stayed in teh suck part of Arlington. I'm actually moving back to Arlington into a really nice area in the far north part of town. In fact, some of my neighbors are members of the Texas Rangers baseball team.

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by ashtonATL

trust me, not leaving the fob is just fine with me

I worry about something happening en rout to and from- and having no way to defend myself if nobody else is around.. ..guess its just paranoia

If something happens en-route, odds are there'll be a weapon on the ground somewhere to pick up.

Do you have any weapons training? If you don't, I'd recommend leaving them alone entirely. Trust me.

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by KLB

Jtrain stayed in teh suck part of Arlington. I'm actually moving back to Arlington into a really nice area in the far north part of town. In fact, some of my neighbors are members of the Texas Rangers baseball team.

Most of Arlington sucks.. if you're far enough north that you're in the non-sucky part, you're almost in North Richland Hills. LOL