28 February 2015 - Goodbye SoCal, Hello Texas.

It's finally happening. I've said my farewells, made peace with the fact that I was moving out of California, where I've lived my entire life, and made the drive out to San Antonio. The drive was pleasant; I wish I had more time to actually enjoy the scenery and explore a little bit.

I arrived to Fort Sam Houston to check in per orders; of course, there were still a few hiccups. I was supposed to get the ball rolling in terms of reporting in to my command, getting checked into temporary living quarters, oathing to Army, getting all my paperwork filed so I could get a new ID card, find housing, and start getting my pay and keep my family insured. Unfortunately, I checked in with my command, but the person I was supposed to see was gone for the day. It's probably just my case since the transition between branches has been so chaotic. So basically I'm here in the hotel until I can check in on Monday. Suck embraced. 

Lighter note, I did make a few stops on the way out to take pictures.

First stop, Davis-Monthan AFB and the Pima County Air Museum. I had a chance to stop by and take a tour of the boneyard. That place is massive, I've never seen so many fighters before. Definitely a must see for jet fighter junkies. Did you know they restored a mothballed B-52 from junk to fully functional in about 2 months and flew it out of there a week ago? That's nuts. Those things are older than I am and they still fly. They also had a bunch of A-10's parted out. Beastly planes they are. 

The drive from Arizona to New Mexico wasn't too bad. That is until I decided to divert from my originally planned route and went into the back country. I drove for about maybe 4-5 hours without reception hoping my GPS wouldn't lose signal, no phone reception the entire time. Stopped a few times in some one road towns and to take pictures of these giant satellites in the Plains of St. Agustin:

Cue X-Files theme. The truth is out there...

Of course, I made some contact with aliens and spent the night in Roswell:

The rest of the drive into through New Mexico into west Texas was pretty uneventful. The weather was getting gloomy and everything just felt run down and gloomy. I don't think I'd personally be able to live out in rural America. But the New Mexico sunsets sure are beautiful. The juxtaposition of the lonely road on to the landscape and the open skies is really something else. I could really disappear out here one day if I wanted to.

All that driving by yourself really messes with your head. You really start to feel lonely and insignificant. But that's why you go to have a good foundation at home, right? I'm going to miss my friends in California, but I'll see you guys later!