Oh the horror!

By
Home Inspector

    Well it's that time of year again that I must sacrifice myself for the benefit of my family. As such I will departing tomorrow morning to rescue my family from their current hardship and despair. In the process, I'm sure to endure the same turmoil they have had to deal with all summer. But a good husband and father will do what it takes to care for his family. I hope each of you can take a moment to send me your good thoughts as I will need tremendous strength to complete this task.

    You see, my wife, a Spanish national and kids spend the summer at our beach house on the southern coast of Spain along with dozens of family and friends. Now I must fly over there and join them, being forced to drink sangria's on the very liberal beach. This could go on for days, only interrupted by family BBQ's, all night parties and ACK, loads of fun.

    But alas, with a little luck I hope to prevail and complete the rescue of my family from such hard times. Then after I return, I must absorb the costs of all this travel. Two round trip flights for myself and three round trips for my family. On my simple US Navy retired pension and utilizing Space Available Travel, I actually have to pay for a meal and drinks which could exceed $5 per person. I'm glad the flight itself is free or I just don't know how I would handle it.

    Wish me luck, I'm going to need it.

 

 

 

NOTE: After the joking around I'm going to take a moment to remind all my retired military brothers and sisters. If your not taking advantage of the greatest benefit of your retirement, shame on you. It may sound hard but it really is very easy if you have an open mind. I firmly believe, at this stage in my life, that this benefit is better than the health care and even the pension itself. I see too many retired military members who have never flown space A. Add in the Armed Forces Vacation Club (lodging almost anywhere in the world for $329 a week), and you just can't go wrong. If you are retired military and you haven't taken advantage of this yet, drop me a line and I'll give you all the secrets.

 

Comments (10)

Dave Woodson
Dave Woodson - Chesterton, IN
Not the Average Agent

good luck, if you need back up just let me know. I ate a spanish place last night and it was great.

I could always go for more

Dave

Aug 16, 2008 04:52 PM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi John...I was so excited about this benefit that I actually got a book that explained the benefits and all the places we could stay.  This I did just before my husband and I married.  We have not flown space available even one.  Shame on us.

I have traveled to China and Tibet paying for the travel as well as to Argentina and Antarctica, all of this since we've been married.  I wish they would let me travel alone because Jim really doesn't want to go.

At this point I have so many free miles on American I can probably make a few trips to Europe.

Please update me on where I can get information on places to stay.  If we can drive Jim is more apt to go.  Those are trips we do make plus we have gone on cruises and taken some trips to the Caribbean.

Kate

Aug 16, 2008 05:00 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Sounds like a rough time all around, but I am sure with your military background you will figure out how to survive it  :)

Aug 16, 2008 05:03 PM
Mary Warren
Las Vegas, NV

John - tough life but some one has to do it!  :)  Try to hold up during it ok?

Aug 16, 2008 05:07 PM
John Coker
Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach Home Inspector

Kathleen

    You need to check out the Armed Forces Vaction Club. No matter where in the world you stay, be it Sheboygan or Paris, Des Moines or Moscow it is the same price. It doesn't matter if it's off season here in Virginia Beach or Bejing during the Olympics, it's all the same price. If you stay one day or 7, it's the same price. $329 a week. It is first come first serve and you may have to plan in advance to get the nicer spots, but I have used it at Disney World and in Hawaii. Both times it was awesome.

Also, know they changed the rules a little while back, you can now fly with him inside the US. I see your in lake Anna VA. Not too far from Dover AFB, about 4 hours driving. Give them a call and check out their outbound flights. If you call them daily, write down what flights go where on which day you will start to see a pattern, like their weekly flight to Hawaii.

Dover AFB passenger Terminal - 302-677-2854

Also, goto Take-A-Hop and you can sign up for Space A anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world from your home. Your sign up lasts for 60 days. Sign up today, and every 60 days take another 5 minutes and sign up again. This way, one weekend, when you find out you have free time and a bur under your saddle, you can just hop on a plane and go whereever.

 

Good Luck.

 

 

Aug 16, 2008 05:28 PM
Baker Home Inspection and Commercial Properties Inspections
Baker Residential and Commercial Properties Inspections - Springfield, VT
Home and Commercial Properties Inspections Vermont

Hey there and morning to ya John
John, here's hopping everything is going well for you and your family!

Aug 28, 2011 09:26 AM
Baker Home Inspection and Commercial Properties Inspections
Baker Residential and Commercial Properties Inspections - Springfield, VT
Home and Commercial Properties Inspections Vermont

Hey there and morning to ya John
John, here's hopping everything is going well for you and your family!

Aug 28, 2011 09:41 AM
Baker Home Inspection and Commercial Properties Inspections
Baker Residential and Commercial Properties Inspections - Springfield, VT
Home and Commercial Properties Inspections Vermont

Hey there and morning to ya John
John, here's hopping everything is going well for you and your family!

Aug 28, 2011 09:44 AM
Baker Home Inspection and Commercial Properties Inspections
Baker Residential and Commercial Properties Inspections - Springfield, VT
Home and Commercial Properties Inspections Vermont

Hey there and morning to ya John
John, here's hopping everything is going well for you and your family!

Aug 28, 2011 09:51 AM
Baker Home Inspection and Commercial Properties Inspections
Baker Residential and Commercial Properties Inspections - Springfield, VT
Home and Commercial Properties Inspections Vermont

Hey there John
Welcome to the beginning of the New Year of 2012

Jan 02, 2012 02:02 PM