It's been five years since I've worn a uniform, and spouse has her eye on [-]her[/-] the closet space that would be freed up if I disposed of my old Navy uniforms.
I got rid of the choker-collar whites, the bridge coat, the pea coat, the service dress, and most of the auxiliary equipment-- especially the neckties. I have one full set of khakis and one full set of whites, the only uniforms really worn by "Hawaii Navy". They're rigged & ready with shoulder boards, insignia, and all the other decorations. By golly, if the phone rang I could be dressed and out the door in five minutes... as soon as I did something about my ponytail.
I've saved a half-dozen sets of submarine coveralls, including a couple with sewn-on insignia & nametags. But I feel pretty stupid wearing them for oil changes, my spouse snickers when she sees them, and they're too hot for yardwork.
So what am I saving this stuff for? If the house caught fire you wouldn't find me on the floor clutching the garment bags as I crawled toward the door. I don't ever plan to wear them for Veteran's Day or Pearl Harbor Day or any other ceremonies. I suppose I'm young enough to be recalled to active duty (as my retirement orders admonish) but in another decade that's going to be even more unlikely than today's microscopic possibility.
The biggest reasons I can muster are (1) inertia, since they don't have to be thrown away for any compelling reason, and (2) when I'm in my 90s I may wish that I'd saved them. But I've already donated some old midshipman uniforms to the Smithsonian (literally) and I can't imagine that I'll be any more sentimental when I'm in my 90s.
I'm keeping the sword. It looks cool, it's in a nice display case (my father's woodcraft), and maybe our kid will grow into it (but she'll probably prefer mom's sword). I don't mind saving that legacy to pass on someday, or maybe to give to some deserving graduate in USNA's Class of 2032.
What are you saving your old uniforms for?
I got rid of the choker-collar whites, the bridge coat, the pea coat, the service dress, and most of the auxiliary equipment-- especially the neckties. I have one full set of khakis and one full set of whites, the only uniforms really worn by "Hawaii Navy". They're rigged & ready with shoulder boards, insignia, and all the other decorations. By golly, if the phone rang I could be dressed and out the door in five minutes... as soon as I did something about my ponytail.
I've saved a half-dozen sets of submarine coveralls, including a couple with sewn-on insignia & nametags. But I feel pretty stupid wearing them for oil changes, my spouse snickers when she sees them, and they're too hot for yardwork.
So what am I saving this stuff for? If the house caught fire you wouldn't find me on the floor clutching the garment bags as I crawled toward the door. I don't ever plan to wear them for Veteran's Day or Pearl Harbor Day or any other ceremonies. I suppose I'm young enough to be recalled to active duty (as my retirement orders admonish) but in another decade that's going to be even more unlikely than today's microscopic possibility.
The biggest reasons I can muster are (1) inertia, since they don't have to be thrown away for any compelling reason, and (2) when I'm in my 90s I may wish that I'd saved them. But I've already donated some old midshipman uniforms to the Smithsonian (literally) and I can't imagine that I'll be any more sentimental when I'm in my 90s.
I'm keeping the sword. It looks cool, it's in a nice display case (my father's woodcraft), and maybe our kid will grow into it (but she'll probably prefer mom's sword). I don't mind saving that legacy to pass on someday, or maybe to give to some deserving graduate in USNA's Class of 2032.
What are you saving your old uniforms for?