good-bye and property value

We had a going away for LtCol V. last night…he leaves Saturday. I sat up the party in the back garden and yesterday afternoon a me, Johnnie, LT L (Ken) and the new MSgt went up on the roof to fly an American flag which I presented. My speech was to the point. In the political world of the military officer LtCol V talked straight, said what he thought, told self serving parties they were full of shit straight to their face and always based his actions on the question, “Is this the right thing to do.” Extremely rare qualities to find in anyone anywhere. My dad is the same way…and me to. More than one person has complained that I’m abrasive but fairness and a policy that really questions exceptions is the best way to deal with people. In the military if someone follows a policy then they are the exception.
OPNAV still hasn’t approved my relief yet which had me get aggravated on the phone yesterday with a LCDR who told me he couldn’t do anything until my spot was approved. My question was simple: I’m here, the manning document says a Naval officer will continue to do the job I do, this has been approved by the JCS, so in all likelihood OPNAV will find this to be a valid requirement. So, I asked if he’d sent out a feeler to the commands to ID a replacement to come fill my billet…No.
Last night I sat out and talked with a PSD. He sat turning up a bottle of Jameson (Scotch?). Here’s how much money he makes: he lives on Ocean Beach in San Diego, is unemployed except for what he does over here, which is escort important people, but when he goes back he’ll have enough money to buy a house on the beach and be able to remain unemployed for awhile. Sounds like a plan. He said he gets up and surfs every morning and works out every afternoon then goes out at night. That’s living.