It's been more than two weeks since I've posted anything here - but please trust me when I say that I've really wanted to! I have come to believe that the two weeks before a big inspection, and in this case it's our annual operations inspection, is more stressful than the inspection itself. I guess it's kind of like a wedding. Today the actual inspection started, and although parts of it still raise my ire, it's much more relaxing than last week or the week before. This is the eighth and probably the last operations inspection that I'll have in my career, unless I become a Commanding Officer of an isolated LORAN unit after advancing to Warrant Officer; and that's a transfer that I don't want to make! Regardless of how stressful it is, and how happy I am to move to North Carolina, the next three months will mark a bittersweet end to my LORAN career. As any pilot will tell you who has flown the same Cessna model for several years - it's comforting to know that any Cessna of the same model handles the same and has the same parts. Sure there are small differences that give each Cessna or LORAN station its own character, but they don't require a complete training overhaul for an experienced operator. My replacement arrived a couple of weeks ago, so right now I'm just a lame-duck Executive Petty Officer waiting for July 1st to arrive. He's a good guy and I'm sure he'll make a fine XPO. We have finally nailed down the date that we will depart Nantucket - and July 1st is it. Once again, as my tour comes to an end, I develop problems in my logic circuits, and so I plan to move myself again.
Abe, Lydia, and I went for a long walk yesterday around Siasconset. I know I've said this a million times; but sometimes I really have to pinch myself to realize just where we live. As much as I gripe about the cost of living, summer traffic, health care, and tourists out here - it really is a beautiful place. Right now, the daffodils and roses have not begun to bloom, and the grass is just getting a hint of green; but what really makes it nice is the fact that we only saw two other people on our entire four-mile walk yesterday. In July, it will be elbow-to elbow. I just like looking at all of the old cottages. Abe took the picture of me standing in front of the cottage with the partially revealed "Auld Lang Sine" sign. It's the oldest structure in Sconset, and it's one of the hand full of homes in this village that has a year-round occupant. 95% of the houses out here are only lived in during Summer. Anyway, we took what is commonly referred to as the "Cliff Walk". It's basically an ancient path that leads from the central village of Siasconset along the cliff beside the ocean to Sankaty Lighthouse. In the 1990's, beach erosion got so bad that the cliffs caved in and parts of the path crept closer inland. Now, the last bit of the cliff leading to the lighthouse is roped off because the path has fallen away. It's still an awesome walk, and although there's not a whole lot of greenery this time of year, the ocean views are spectacular. In a lot of places, the path leads right through the back yards of houses close to the cliff - which is another reason I like walking it this time of year - nobody's home! When I walk behind some of those homes, I like to imagine having a lawn that pretty much butts up to the ocean. It must be nice! Almost all of the homes on the walk have at one time or another been extremely nice and well built. Some homes are new, some have been remodeled, and many more (like the home with the elaborate woodwork in the photos) are begging to be restored. I believe that the owners of some of these houses in disrepair are doing everything they can just to pay taxes on the land, and can't afford to remodel. It will be shameful if that beautiful old house is allowed to fall apart. Well, to end this ramble, we had a nice long walk on a beautiful day (54 deg and sunny). The other two boys said "No thanks!" when we asked them to come along. Please excuse our redneck attire. Lydia didn't realize I had a camera until we were well on our way. I, of course, didn't think anything about it. Oh yeah - Abe wanted his picture taken next to "Herbie". We watched "The Love Bug" a few weeks back, so now he thinks we should ask the owner of the blue bug to paint it white and put a racing stripe and numbers on it! Click www.sltodd.com/cliffwalk.htm for pictures of our walk. We also got a few more pictures of the house last week. The siding should be finished by now. www.sltodd.com/ournewhome.htm
Steven
