I grew up in Michigan, so prior to this job, I had no frame of reference for this post. However, after almost 9 months, I feel like I can comment. While in the Navy, I had friends who were stationed in Hawaii. I used to be very envious and told them what a great tour that must have been. People pay big bucks to vacation there, and the Navy sent them and paid them while they were there!
Every single of one of them (that were not born there) said how much they could not stand it after about six months. I asked why, and they all said "island fever." You can not drive anywhere, you see the same scenery, there is not much to do, etc. I would say "you can go the beach" and they all said that after six months, boring! I asked them that what was the difference with the mainland? All I did was drive to work, drive home, etc. It is not like I went somewhere else constantly. And their response? Yeah, but you COULD if you wanted to. On an island, you are stuck.
The same thought struck me the other day while I was driving (at 12 mph) to work. I think I would kill to see or do something different. Just to have the opportunity to drive somewhere, anywhere other than this "island" I am stuck on!
You all know the feeling: Just get in your car and go. Not many of us do (family, job, MONEY etc keep us from doing it) but you know you CAN if you want to. I can't. Well, actually I can drive off base, the Army will just wave, but I will undoubtedly regret it once I get a few klicks (kilometers) away (Kandahar city ain't that far!)
One of my guys built a "crow's nest" over one of the connexes I use for a fence around my area, and when I asked why (he has been over here for about 5 years) and he said, "so I can see something different." Now mind you, it's not like it is some lush garden just outside the fence! It is just as hot and dusty, with nothing worth looking at outside as there is inside, but it is "different." I attached a couple of pics, one of the crow's nest and one of view from the crow's nest.
I did not "get it" when he built it.
I get it now.
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