AK Retiree Club

[Wolverine]

I've found that folks personality remains pretty much the same throughout life, it is their beliefs that sometimes change... My children were born with their own unique personalities- they showed after they learned to talk and haven't changed over 30 years. Old high school and military buddies are still they same folks they were when young.

I would say that is generally true but some life experiences have changed some of my high school and college classmates. I also think that Social Media has also impacted to various degrees how some people interact with each other in a way they did not in the past. Perhaps they always held certain beliefs but Social norms in those days kept these beliefs in check or at least expressed with a little more decorum.

 

[usedto]

Our 50th reunion was in 2018. Pretty much as I expected. The most popular/jocks pretty much kept to themselves. The rest of us caught up on our current lives.

My biggest laugh (not really) - all of the "hottie" girls who married their "dreamboat" and were now divorced, who came up to me and said "I always liked you in high school". Yeah, right. Mr. Popular I wasn't. Now I don't seem such a bad catch. At least that's what my wife thinks..

 

[Mart Mccall]

American high school has always fascinated me although admittedly all I know about it is from John Hughes films and the occasional documentary.

Nothing like the school I went to. No girls, and it was run like a military prison.

A 50 year reunion would be interesting, but we don't have those either.

 

[j!m]

American high school is best depicted in the film “Better off dead”.

 

[Mart Mccall]

American high school is best depicted in the film “Better off dead”.

I have the DVD

 

[onepixel]

I went to two high schools.

One in Utah, where I was one of 4 Asian kids in the entire school. Three were in the same family.
I played football, on high honor roll, got high. I had variety of friends, Mormons, farmers, stoners, geeks, jocks. I didn't discriminate. Girls liked me.

Second high school was on Okinawa, Japan. More of the same, but more Asian kids. Okinawa is kinda like a Japanese version of Hawaii.
Played both sides in football and wrestled too. Still A's and was the art director of the yearbook. Got athletic and scholastic awards. Pot was extremely potent. I had the only surfboard in school. I saved three separate people from drowning.
One girl friend, my sweetheart was the head cheerleader and the homecoming queen. The jock, she broke up with me, eventually got another girl pregnant. Got married and divorced.

I have a date coming up with a very sweet and hot grandmother.


The current high school (Okinawa) reunion committee asked me to be the official photographer for 2026 in Nashville. Said they would pay for the hotel, dinner and events.
Told them to just buy me lunch.

I've been blessed.

 

[Oerets]

I went to two high schools.

One in Utah, where I was one of 4 Asian kids in the entire school. Three were in the same family.
I played football, on high honor roll, got high. I had variety of friends, Mormons, farmers, stoners, geeks, jocks. I didn't discriminate. Girls liked me.

Second high school was on Okinawa, Japan. More of the same, but more Asian kids. Okinawa is kinda like a Japanese version of Hawaii.
Played both sides in football and wrestled too. Still A's and was the art director of the yearbook. Got athletic and scholastic awards. Pot was extremely potent. I had the only surfboard in school. I saved three separate people from drowning.
One girl friend, my sweetheart was the head cheerleader and the homecoming queen. The jock, she broke up with me, eventually got another girl pregnant. Got married and divorced.

I have a date coming up with a very sweet and hot grandmother.


The current high school (Okinawa) reunion committee asked me to be the official photographer for 2026 in Nashville. Said they would pay for the hotel, dinner and events.
Told them to just buy me lunch.

I've been blessed.

Grew up also with a parent in the military. Around the very same period of time. Then he went onto working for a Airline with moving as a part of the game. Two HS's also with me. In having to venture a guess, ten schools were involved maybe. From one side of the country to the other being normal. A couple of years the longest.
Went from Monterey Ca a skateboarding beach loving kid to a Hogs Heifers Hens & Hay farm in Illinois...

Ended up in a country HS with fifty some in my graduating class. Last reunion around 50% were there.

 

[onepixel]

Grew up also with a parent in the military. Around the very same period of time. Then he went onto working for a Airline with moving as a part of the game. Two HS's also with me. In having to venture a guess, ten schools were involved maybe. From one side of the country to the other being normal. A couple of years the longest.
Went from Monterey Ca a skateboarding beach loving kid to a Hogs Heifers Hens & Hay farm in Illinois...

Ended up in a country HS with fifty some in my graduating class. Last reunion around 50% were there.

I lived in 5 different places in Japan and 5 different states.
At the time, as a kid it wasn't fun. Now I appreciate having the opportunity to have lived and explored many places.

Were you at Fort Ord in Monterey? My brother was stationed there.

My class was 240 in Okinawa. Was a mix of every branch of the service, plus civilians. When we graduated, everyone was spread all over the world.
Reason why we have reunions around the country. So everyone has a chance to attend.

 

[Oerets]

I lived in 5 different places in Japan and 5 different states.
At the time, as a kid it wasn't fun. Now I appreciate having the opportunity to have lived and explored many places.

Were you at Fort Ord in Monterey? My brother was stationed there.

My class was 240 in Okinawa. Was a mix of every branch of the service, plus civilians. When we graduated, everyone was spread all over the world.
Reason why we have reunions around the country. So everyone has a chance to attend.

My Father was in the Navy and was a attached to their Station in Monterey. We went to Ft Ord a lot back then. Beaches were nice, just FKN cold water IIRC.
It was back during the mid 60's Vietnam war era and was a pretty busy time.
When he left for his cruse over to the war. We then moved to be with family and a farm. Can't use a skateboard very well on gravel roads I found out quickly.... But can ride horses so moved on.

 

[chicks]

 

[YY1]

I was on the other side of the military brat experience.

My HS was comprised 75% of Air Force kids.
Most were on a 2/3/4 year rotation, so you never had the same group for more than 3-4 years.
Was tough when a friend had to move away, but surely was worse for them.
I did meet cool people who had previously lived in places like Germany and the Philippines.
One of my best friend's fathers was a crew chief on F-16s.
Another was a civilian engineer on the B-1 project.

All in all it was a great "culturally diverse" experience.

 

[Quadman2]

There's much research presently going on in the study of "personality" today, and finally some agreement between the different schools of thought. To a degree each group in the learning fields are being able to assess and notice how DNA (genes) and cultural/environmental/social influences interact with each other. And with these findings, some unwanted ways of thinking might be better dealt with and modified.

Then you have the neurologists who want to have their piece of the "pie" indicating that nerve paths and the restructering of them, has their place in the development of how we become who we are.

Pretty much all agree that "people can and do change with age"...to a degree depending upon outside influences and their physical make-up.


Q

 

[ernieb1536]

Our 50th reunion was in 2018. Pretty much as I expected. The most popular/jocks pretty much kept to themselves. The rest of us caught up on our current lives.

My biggest laugh (not really) - all of the "hottie" girls who married their "dreamboat" and were now divorced, who came up to me and said "I always liked you in high school". Yeah, right. Mr. Popular I wasn't. Now I don't seem such a bad catch. At least that's what my wife thinks..

Had a similar experience , about 5 yrs after I graduated a former chearleader I ran into at the mall flagged me down and gave me her number , by then she had a kid in tow and the bloom had fell off the rose ! In high school she wouldn’t have gave me the time if the day ! I was polite talked a bit and then left , thinking my have the mighty have fallen as I threw the number away thinking wow my girl friend was a lot better in every way !

 

[onepixel]

My Father was in the Navy and was a attached to their Station in Monterey. We went to Ft Ord a lot back then. Beaches were nice, just FKN cold water IIRC.
It was back during the mid 60's Vietnam war era and was a pretty busy time.
When he left for his cruse over to the war. We then moved to be with family and a farm. Can't use a skateboard very well on gravel roads I found out quickly.... But can ride horses so moved on.

Back in the days, my Navy Lt. friend briefly was at the International School in Monterey. Another Army Lt. visited was working on helicopters.
My brother was a combat medic, while at Ft. Ord. He said the most fun he had was blowing up a truck with a LAW rocket. He now works at Stanford Hospital.

 

[yzzaj]

66. Started getting SS last year. I'm an artist so I'll never retire. Besides, I haven't really work, work in years. Been supplementing from investments when needed. My overhead is pretty low. I'm on board of directors of two non-profits. Was recently made president on one board, so I keep me busy.

I still surf/SUP about 2 or 3 times a week, depending on conditions. Still doing yoga, hiking, swimming. Did the Honolulu Marathon 2 years ago. This year I want to do the Cycle to the Sun. My friend, artist and pastor in her mid-70s did it last year.

Going on a first "date" in a next month or so. Logistics, timing, life have been tricky. She lives about 3600" miles away.

View attachment 3394652

Registration opened March 1st. I imagine you've already been training. You'll have to post some photos from your bike on the way up during the race.


.

.
So - how did you do in "Cycle to the Sun"?

What was your time?

What place did you finish in (overall and age group)?

Do you have any pics?

 

[onepixel]

.
So - how did you do in "Cycle to the Sun"?

What was your time?

What place did you finish in (overall and age group)?

Do you have any pics?

Unfortunately life got in the way. Didn't do the Cycle to the Sun.

But I'll be doing this tomorrow.

Paddle for Life

My friend was doing the Paddle for Life Fundraiser this weekend, Oct. 4-5, 2025 I donated and figure I might as well tag along. I'll be paddling too. 36 miles round trip to Lana’l through the 'Au'au Channel. It can be sketchy. 25 canoes and over 450 cancer survivors and supporters. It will be...

audiokarma.org

 

[usedto]

Went to Wifey's 50th high school reunion tonight. A little over 60 in the class, close to half showed up. Since I'm 7 years her senior, not too many I was familiar with - mostly their older siblings. Still, it was a nice time. Sad to see how many of her classmates have passed.

 

[chicks]

 

[onepixel]

Paddle for Life fundraiser this past weekend. Raised $300K.
400 people, survivors, family, friends, support, volunteers and a live band on Lana'i.
Starting ceremony on Maui.

EDIT: Final numbers were 450+ people and $350K raised.



Sunset on Lana'i.



Paddling back, saw dolphins. Two shifts, paddling. In the channel crossing, the waves got big.



The other shift on the support boat.



Back on Maui having beers and oyster shooters.

 

[triple20]

I would like to say congratulations to all who are in the retiree club already.
As of this past Friday I can say I have joined the club,Oct 31st was my last day of work.
From here on out I will be living off my pension and then SSI when I'm eligible.
I won't be living the lifestyles of the rich and famous,won't be driving a new Cadillac every few years...but at 61 years old,my bills will be paid,I'll have some spending money in my pocket and I won't have to work another day in my life,unless I want to.
I know I am fortunate and I am very thankful to be at this point in life,I personally know quite a few people that tell me they will never be able to retire,they will have to work until their last breath.
To touch on a couple recent topics of conversation in this thread...I have no military experience but highly respect,support and thank those who do.
High school reunions? what are those? I was such an outcast at my high school,they haven't even sent me any invitations to their reunions and I have made my info available.

thank you