WHERE I'M FROM

Geographically, I don’t have one place I can say I’m “from” because my father was in the Navy, my mother worked for the Navy, and later I was in the Navy and the

CIA. All my life until I was in my 50’s I was on a two year schedule of rotations. This continued for both Navy and CIA, two-year cycles. Only after I retired from the CIA did

I live in one place more than 2 years, but I still traveled all the time.

Where I’m from mentally has always been service. All during both of my careers (just shy of 50 years of federal government service) I’ve made it clear that I was

willing to go anywhere and do anything needed to fulfill the mission.

I’ve had colleagues who put parameters on where they’d go or what they’d do for the service – Not Me!

Now that I’ve retired (reluctantly) and live in the relatively small town of Weaverville, I’m realizing the benefits of having a hometown, and I enjoy it. I enjoy walking into an establishment and have the people recognize me. I enjoy knowing friends, even their pets’

names, their preferences with regards to food, drink, activities, etc. I didn’t know what I was missing. It’s changed my definition of “Where I’m From”.

Another related aspect is my connection with the VA and veterans groups here in the Asheville area. When I first left the Navy the VA was not as supportive as they

are now, and the closest VA facility to me was in Washington, D.C. – not in a nice neighborhood, and the staff could care less. Here, not only is the VA hospital a

class establishment, but the VFW, American Legion, and groups like “Brothers and Sisters Like These” give me a new sense of belonging.

-Mike