Growing up pool, we didn’t travel for fun. We went places that were necessary to get to, like the discount clothing stores closer to Atlantic City. Or perhaps a trip back to Williamsport to see family.

When I was being sworn in, and offered boot camp in San Diego, the first two thoughts were: 1) It’s a helluva lot warmer there than the usual in Michigan in Februrary; and 2) I’ve never been further west than Pittsburg (Uncle Stan).

I’ll not forget my mother who picked me up at the Atlantic City Airport when I flew home from San Diego almost 2-years after enlisting. She was so very proud that I was the first person in the Hess family to fly. She said “You walked off that airplane as though you’ve been flying all your life. I was 20.

You can tell by the timelines when I had the time and money to travel. It’s gotten crazy these last 10-years since retirement — in addition to moving 6 times. I’ve been trying to catch three major categories: 1) National Parks; 2) State Capital Buildings; 3) Decent (but not expensive) golf courses along the way.