Let's do this!

Wow… it has been two months since my last post.  Quite a bit has happened, very slowly…  

The appraisal process slowed us down quite a bit.  There were two appraisals done and they both came back low.  Mostly due to this being a new development, so there was only one sale and it was sold so low just so the guy could get rid of it so he could move to Houston.  The comparables just weren't there to put the value where the builder thought it should be.  This worked in our favor.  Yeah us!  The builder had to bring his price down, cutting into his profit.   The good news for us was that he REALLY wants to build this house.  It is a unique plan, with some really cool craftsman features… and it will really say something about his abilities as a custom builder.  Good news all around if you ask me.

So we finished up the appraisal, then quickly closed on the construction.  The next task for us was to get our custom changes into the blueprints.  The architect is from near Dallas.   So this was an easy task.  He would draw the changes and then we would go back and forth ironing out the details.  It only took him about 5 days to complete. Then we had to now push it through the Architectural Committee.  That approval should come back today or tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the builder is setting up his subcontractors in the bull pen so they will be ready to go when the approval comes in.

All of this to say… the construction of our dream home will begin this week!

There are lot of cool custom touches that we are thinking about doing in the kitchen… cabinets, island, hood…

…more to come, with photos of course.

Casa di King

A friend of mine suggested I include this in my blog.  I have to admit it has been a long time since I wrote something.  It has been a busy few months since I retired from the Air Force and start the next chapter.  We have been renting a house while we figured out details on the house we want to build.

This whole idea has been years in the making.  Some of you may know that Monica and I decided years ago that San Antonio would the location of our post AF home.  We were stationed at Randolph and lived in Schertz (NE San Antonio) from 2003-2006.  We like San Antonio.  It is a big city, with a small town appeal, depending on where you live.  You can find anything here.

The other part of this story I should mention is that Monica is a city girl from Montreal, Canada.  I, am a country boy, from rural Michigan; although I was born in San Antonio, at Lackland AFB.  This is why San Antonio is perfect, it has the things a person could want from a city, shopping, dining, sporting events… but you can also enjoy a rural area if you want.  It is the perfect compromise.

Originally we bought 5 acres in Bulverde, just north of San Antonio.  After we retired, Monica got a job working at Lackland and I work from home.  Monica was moved up to a higher level position and it appeared that she would be staying at Lackland.  Bulverde is just too far away.  We then began looking elsewhere or another lot closer to this side of town.  We sold the lot in Bulverde and bought a little smaller lot in Medina county, but it is a perfect commute for Monica.  Again, perfect compromise.

All while making these land decisions, we were looking at model homes with builders that 'build on your lot' and at home plans on the internet.  We were looking at one model home in particular.  It had a lot of features that we liked.  As time went by and we kept checking on homes they were building, we saw things that we didn't like in the construction of these homes and there were a lot of limitations on changes.  Even though they said they make changes to a custom home, it was very rigid and expensive.

We ended up finding a plan online that we liked and found someone to build it for us.  We are now waiting for the appraisal to come back so we can start building.  This process has a lot of moving parts. But, we are making some very unique personal touches and customizations.  We are very excited about our house and can't wait to start.  Soon… very soon.

The Air Force Life

The post is a long time coming.  As I sit here, it has been a couple months since my retirement ceremony.  I have been very busy with the movers and getting things in place here at the new casa.  Kathryn and I made our trek to Texas via Mississippi to visit family.  We visited my Aunt and Uncle who had not seen Kathryn since she was 6 months old.  It was fun.

I need to pass great thanks to Leah, Malia, Wendy, Ana, Chris, John, Kyle and Steve.  They make up my work family.  We have had some good laughs and have truly become family.  I thank all of you for your excellent work on the retirement ceremony.  It was spot-on, the best!  Leah, I thank you for taking the lead and ensuring each detail was covered.  Great job to all.  I will miss you guys!

I also want to thank Scott.  Thanks for helping me arrange the special presentation from my Dad and the awesome tours.  My family does not live near an air force base and they really enjoyed the tour.  Lots of cool Air Force toys that we all see every day.  Thanks!

I could not have chosen a better officer to officiate the ceremony.  Lt Col Vattioni, I knew you would make it fun, and that was what I was looking for.  Your approach to the ceremony was awesome!  I cannot thank you and Jessica enough.  You made it special.  I hope our paths cross again soon... ci vediamo in Italia?

It was great to have my friends travel from far and wide to help me celebrate.  If there is one thing I can say about the Air Force it is that we are big family.  We go from base to base doing the mission. We stay in touch with the help of email and Facebook.  Thanks to Jim and Michele, Scott and Jeri, Mike and Noy, Tim and Cathy, Mary, Chris, Steve and Cathy,  and Mercedes and Monika for taking time out of their schedule to make the trip.

Family.  There were nine that made the trip from Michigan.  Mom and Dad, Cherlynn, Corinne, Kathryn, Janet, Holly and Sammy and Lilly.  They picked up two more in Alabama:  Tearl and Carrie. We also had Monica's family come in from Canada and Italy.  Anita, Gianni and Alessandro.  Family is important.  Thanks to mine for coordinating their schedules to come down to Florida in the summer... It must have been rough.  :)  Hey Sammy, coin check!

Also, to Leigh.  I remember you when you were a shiny new Airmen coming from Technical Training.  We ended up living a block or two from each other.  Who could have predicted that we would be stationed together twice and that you would start a photography business so you could take photos at my ceremony!  Just kidding.  Thanks for everything Leigh! (and Tim)

I know this is a long blog, but I wanted to document some thoughts since some of my friends around the world were unable to attend due to mission, work or other issues.  I know you would have made it if you could.

Below is Lt Col Vattioni's speech, my speech and then Jason and Jessica's Top Ten list that Jason read at dinner.  Awesome!

Lieutenant Colonel Vattioni's Speech

Senior Master Sergeant King's Speech

Top Ten Reasons Why Chris King is Cool

Photos can be found on my FB page.

Thanks everyone!  It was an awesome way to close this chapter.  As for the next chapter, well, that begins next week.  I will start work as the Joint Family Support Assistance Program Consultant for Military One Source.  I am excited about continuing work that I love.  I am humbled by the opportunity and grateful for the confidence others have in me.  

Ci sentiamo/until next time.

ck


Here is the video of the ceremony.  Posted 22 Jan 2014.

The Pursuit of Perfection

We all want to be the best we can at anything we do.  We identify the goal, create milestones to achieve the goal and begin our work.  But, do you want to be perfect?  Do you have something inside you that drives you to make the results of anything you do perfect?  If you don't reach that perfect result, it just eats at you and you feel like a failure?

So what is it to be perfect?  To be perfect is to be entirely without flaws, defects or shortcomings; accurate, exact or correct in every detail.  Wow.  That sounds like the bar is set pretty high.  How can we imperfect humans make something perfect?  I have a few family and friends that make attempts to control everything to ensure perfection is achieved.  I find that this creates undo stress.  This can affect your pursuit of happiness, depending on how you deal with it. 

I love quotes.  I have a couple that I like that speak to our pursuit of perfection.  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, artist and politician.  He said, "The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection."  We all have limitations and must do our best to work with, but not within, our limitations to achieve our goals.  If you work within your limitations, you may not make your goals.  On the other side, if you work with your limitations to make the best of them, you can achieve your goals.  You can reach your goals without being perfect.

Here is another quote.  This one provides an alternative to perfection.  The famous Green Bay Packer coach Vince Lombardi sums it up very well.  "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."  I think this is some wise advice.  Set your goals high, and in your pursuit of perfection you will achieve excellence.  For those of us in the Air Force, you will note that the last of our Core Values is NOT perfection.  "Integrity first, Service before self and EXCELLENCE in all we do."

Give yourself a break.  You can achieve happiness AND excellence while pursuing your goals and perfection.

I will leave you with one last quote from author George Orwell, "The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection."

Pursue a happy life and don't forget to enjoy the moments along the way.

Peace.

Ahhhh The Memories...

So for those of you that have seen my videos, you already know that I made one for Corinne's graduation in 2009.  Well, Kathryn graduates this year.  It is quite a bit of work to sort, scan and organize the photos for these videos... but I simply love it!  Going back and reliving my girls when they were little.  Remembering the places that we have been and the cool stuff we did.  My girls are my GREATEST accomplishment.  They impress me everyday.  Some of you know what I am talking about.  Your kids give you that same sense of pride.  I can't believe in three months Kathryn will be college bound!  Little Katie, known by me as Scooter.  So many stories come flooding back...  I will have to save them for telling my grandchildren... but not too soon eh!

Here is a link to the video I made for Corinne... I still love to watch it.  Break out the popcorn!

Corinne's Video

Peace Out...

In Good Time

Sometimes it pays to just trust that things will happen when they are supposed to.  Whether you believe in God or just are optimistic.  I happen to do both.  This week has proven a good week.  Monica and I have both been looking for jobs for my post military retirement.  Things are looking good and chugging along as they are supposed to.  We also put the house on the market this week.  The first day it was listed we had a showing and now have a couple interested.  We are very grateful.  I trust that things will fall into place as they should.  Saint Augustine said "Faith is to believe in what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe."  Amen

First Post

Well, as the title says, this is my first post.  Lots of changes going on in the King house.  The biggest one is my retirement from the Air Force.  It is kind of an emotional time.  It is almost like it is my first adult decision.  I know it isn't, but it feels like it.  I have been in the Air Force for 26 years.  It has been fun, adventurous and absolutely WONDERFUL.  I have not worked outside the Air Force with the exception of my Dad's hardware store and the restaurant in Mecosta, Michigan.  On one hand this is just one chapter closing and another opening, but on the other hand... joining the Air Force is the biggest thing I have ever done in my life.  Giving it up is weird, very weird.  We are bred to believe that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves... and it is true.  And to imagine, I will not be a part of active duty is tough.  I know I will ALWAYS be a part of the Air Force, but it will not be the same.  We have a saying that we using the Air Force.  "The only constant in the Air Force is change."  This is a big change.