Exclusive Interview with Nords!! Early Retiree from the Military

[Billy]

Exclusive interview with Nords. Recently declassified, never-before-seen photos!! Get the inside view on early retirement from the military.

Click here for his story...
http://www.retireearlylifestyle.com/douginterview.htm

Nords was generous enough to spend time to answer our questions and give us insight into his enviable lifestyle in Hawaii. This is especially useful information for those in the military considering their future options.

Akaisha
Author, The Adventurer's Guide to Early Retirement

 

[Sam]

That's a good interview. Did Nords get to read the questions ahead of time?

 

[REWahoo]

My favorite phrase in the entire piece:

"...Doug, a.k.a., Nords, brings a useful and mostly sane perspective because he is retired from the military."

If he'd retired from megacorp would he bring a completely sane perspective? Or maybe a mostly insane perspective?

 

[crazy connie]

Also, Nords no longer has to waste his time sitting in the barber's chair!

 

[Nords]

Thanks, Billy & Akaisha! You guys do a good interview and I'm glad you talked me into it.

Note how Billy managed to crop the surf photo to show a glimpse of Diamond Head in the background...

I should point out that the other candid photo was taken after I'd been up for 36 hours on a MEDEVAC to Alaska (hence the stylish deck attire). It's what all the cool department heads wear. Gumby can vouch for me.

If he'd retired from megacorp would he bring a completely sane perspective? Or maybe a mostly insane perspective?

Fortunately the jury will never be able to render a verdict on that one. Think of how many people re-enlist with the expectation that "This time it'll really be different!"

Also, Nords no longer has to waste his time sitting in the barber's chair!

I've saved at least $250 on haircuts over the last five years.

Seriously, though, as I approached retirement I realized that between 1970s Pittsburgh and the U.S. Navy, one way or another my hairstyle had pretty much been dictated to me for over 90% of my life. It was a very straightforward way to make a big change in my life. I started growing it as an experiment ("Would it grow?") and as a reminder that every day I'm trying something new-- every day my hair is the longest it's ever been. Of course now it annoys the heck out of my daughter that my hair is longer than hers, so I'll probably keep it this way for a few more years.

The e-mails are already rolling in. Here's the first one: "Great article! That was very well written and entertaining." Thanks, Don, are you a lurker?

 

[Billy]

Good point, REWahoo!

I would like to think that I'm mostly sane... 8)

Nords has that charismatic sense of humor and certainly a wild streak (spent years in a submarine??) So we were simply being lighthearted with the 'mostly sane' comment.

I should point out that the other candid photo was taken after I'd been up for 36 hours on a MEDEVAC to Alaska (hence the stylish deck attire). It's what all the cool department heads wear. Gumby can vouch for me.

Yeah,the cropping of this photo was also done in good humor -- since the ER forum has so much of that 36 hours on a MEDEVAC - you deserved some rest!

In general, we felt humbled by your experience, service to our country and your very keen mind... We were very happy you agreed to do this interview. Thanks!

Akaisha
Author, The Adventurer's Guide to Early Retirement

 

[Khan]

I worked on a US military base for more than 20 years and all the military I saw retire came back as civil servants or contractors, often the next business day.

 

[macdaddy]

Wow, nice ponytail! I couldn't tell the pictures were all of the same dude.

 

[Lancelot]

Great interview! Nords seems to have found his true nich in ER.

From submariner to sufer dude, quite a switch

 

[HFWR]

Wow, nice ponytail! I couldn't tell the pictures were all of the same dude.

Yeah, I'm jealous, but hopefully not too many years behind...

 

[unclemick]

My favorite phrase in the entire piece:

"...Doug, a.k.a., Nords, brings a useful and mostly sane perspective because he is retired from the military."

If he'd retired from megacorp would he bring a completely sane perspective? Or maybe a mostly insane perspective?

Sanity is way way overrated. Great thread.

heh heh heh

 

[Eagle43]

Great interview; NORDS knows what's important. I know that I had to have a second career; still had three kids at home and no money upon military retirement. MegaCorp provided me with enough and a second pension. The military did not encourage people to just retire early. The only people who did it were those who were in for 30 years, and even most of them found a second job.

Wish you hadn't listed all those military bennies. Now, there'll be a rush to enlist.

 

[dex]

Billy,
I see a book in your future - I think it would be balanced and focused on the right issues about RE.

Let me know if I can help with the budgeting part when you do begin to write it.

 

[WM]

What a fun article! And I bet Nords would write a great book about ER for the military.

Being in the military ourselves, it does seem easier to ER given all the benefits (as long as the career part works well for you). But I think people don't do it for the same reasons as non-military don't ER - we're socially conditioned to work and then reward ourselves with more or bigger or better stuff (house, car, toys) or experiences (expensive vacations) but no one's out there selling us on the idea of buying back our time through ER. No money to be made in that.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Well that was an interesting interview. I had read most of the article content over various posts that Nords has done. Nonetheless, Nords has acheived his ER goal and should be commended.

What I'd really like to know is if that chain link fence topped with barbed wire means don't surf here. Is that where the best surfing is, in the place where you are not supposed to go ?

 

[riskadverse]

After reading posts for years, I get a mental image of what some of the posters look like. It's always fun to then see a picture, so you can match your mental image with the person. (This time it was pretty close!)

 

[MasterBlaster]

After reading posts for years, I get a mental image of what some of the posters look like. It's always fun to then see a picture, so you can match your mental image with the person. (This time it was pretty close!)

In case some of you were wondering what I look like, here is a recent photo. In the photo I had been partying all night and hadn't had time for a shave.

 

[laurence]

Great article! Nords, I could barely tell it was you in the short hair pictures!

 

[kcowan]

I retired in August 2002 and so have been going through the transition in parallel to Nords. I also did not get serious about retirement until after doing it. This board has been a big help.

Island fever would prevent me from chosing Hawaii but we hang out on the Pacific too - Vancouver and PV. I think we will eventually spend most of the year in PV and travel during the hottest months. A 91-year-old MIL in Vancouver is preventing that at present. (No she will not go to PV.)

I get my hair cut in Mexico for 70 pesos and keep it short while there. Longest hair is in the spring and fall in Vancouver.

When do we get to meet in person?

 

[wildcat]

Great interview Billy & Nords. It seems as though you have aced the "Life After ER" phase and I always enjoy reading your insightful posts on this forum.

 

[Moemg]

Great interview Nords and I salute you for making your family a top priority !

 

[Nords]

What I'd really like to know is if that chain link fence topped with barbed wire means don't surf here. Is that where the best surfing is, in the place where you are not supposed to go ?

Kalealoa/White Plains Beach used to be Barbers Point Naval Air Station (and still has an active Coast Guard aviation search & rescue base). The fence was part of the old military security and has been left to rot in place (no funds to remove). The land on the "other side" of the fence is public property and usually has a couple pickups/SUVs camped out for the fishing & surfing. But the fence is full of holes and people cross without caring.

That part of the shore is full of small lava bluffs & coral heads-- not so hot for surfing, great for beach fishing. So it's a natural boundary between the two activities. The fence is also a good nav aid for judging the current and paddling back out to the "right" spot.

Great article! Nords, I could barely tell it was you in the short hair pictures!

My old shipmates have the exact same reaction when they see me now!

When do we get to meet in person?

San Antonio was our last grownups trip for a while. Now that my parents-in-law have moved to the Mainland, parental travel is a little harder until we launch our 14-year-old. She's made herself so busy with school & other activities that we can't even plan an interisland trip during her spring break.

We'd be up in your area this summer if there's a small college (5000 or fewer) with a good engineering (mechanical or aerospace) program and a women's basketball team...

But I'll be in West Point, NY on 26 May to help my nephew the Army Ranger move himself back to Fort Campbell.

I've been meeting one ER at a time... Laurence on a couple of his trips, Deserat last year, REWahoo! in San Antonio, Trombone Al in Waikiki on Thursday... when's your next Hawaii vacation?

 

[deserat]

Doug/Billy/Akaisha:

Great article - Doug - I recognize that board! and that beach.....the surf shack for food is great, too.

One question, Doug, you mentioned the pension - do you also draw off your after-tax accounts for some of your living expenses, or do you use the pension for that - I know you were arbitraging your house...bottom line, do you live on about as much as the Kaderlis (as per their book)?

Thanks for sharing - Bridget

 

[Sam]

do you live on about as much as the Kaderlis (as per their book)?

Billy and Akaisha are the exception. That's a compliment, btw. I still can't figure it out.

 

[tryan]

Nords,

Thanx for having the courage to share ... as the rest of us choose to remain anonomous.

What was the lure?