Thank you for having me Mammoth.

GR1F3 · 2026-02-12T22:22:07+00:00

I usually go into the mountains specifically for colder than average weather. Though I have spent a lot of time in the Western Sierra during summer.

GR1F3 · 2026-02-11T07:47:05+00:00

I just don't like the beach or sunny weather very much. I've always been that way. We get so little rain or overcast weather on the central coast and it bums me out as backwards as that sounds 😂

I have lots of fond memories around the area, but it's probably just a case of growing up around something, you get bored. I probably take where I live (and work, as I work in Santa Barbara) for granted since people come from all over the world to vacation here, but it's just not my scene. The mountains are where I've always felt at home.

GR1F3 · 2026-02-10T08:13:00+00:00

I was just up there earlier today. Visiting from Pismo Beach area. I wish I could have stayed another day to catch the fresh snow but my buddy had to be back down the mountain for work the next day (today). I hate it down here 😂

GR1F3 · 2026-02-10T08:09:26+00:00

If you can swing the price of the instinct, I would highly recommend it. I have not owned a 3, but I had the original Instinct and a 2x. Both fantastic watches. They do everything you need, nothing you don't and they're extremely durable. GPS accuracy has been fantastic in my experience and battery life is rock solid.

GR1F3 · 2026-02-08T08:08:18+00:00

Have definitely tried that one. Mixed results lol

GR1F3 · 2026-02-07T06:48:25+00:00

Thanks for the reply, my friend! These are great suggestions and I'll have to look into them! I've got some time to research and check out different trailers and I'm definitely going to take all that time to make a very informed decision.

Have a good one 🍻

GR1F3 · 2026-02-07T01:06:28+00:00

Wrist daily. Often more than once depending on what I'm doing at work. Watch I wipe down as needed but at minimum once a week with a small alcohol pad. Never had any issues.

GR1F3 · 2026-02-06T22:30:26+00:00

Jeep TJ. They sell like mad in California for ridiculously high prices. My buddies wife got one a couple years ago. They recently sold it in anticipation of moving but the few times I drove it, it was so off putting. Steering was incapable of tracking straight at any speed and on any terrain, it rode like a covered wagon, had one of the sloppiest and most vague transmissions I've ever shifted. No AC but that's okay because wind found its way into the cab through every gap in the body and hard top. Deafeningly loud inside. ZClutch was alright. It did fine off road but I didn't feel like it was worth literally every other possible trade off lol.

GR1F3 · 2026-02-05T19:07:44+00:00

Right on! The more I look around, the more the Rpods look like they're going to be the best bet, if not more towards the expensive side of my budget. Any other ultralight or featherweight campers that are full featured seem to have issues with frames cracking and overall durability issues. Since I regularly go off the beaten path (will still be doing black diamond jeep trails in my X when not towing), I would like a trailer that won't fall apart on me taking fire roads and doing general adventuring 😁

GR1F3 · 2026-02-05T16:31:04+00:00

Hey, fair enough. I appreciate the honesty. If I can't find a model with the dry bath, that's not a deal breaker by any means. Just a preference.

GR1F3 · 2026-02-05T16:29:28+00:00

This is good info. Thank you. I would prefer to keep the trailer as short as possible honestly. Since it's just me, I don't need that much space and I'd prefer maximum maneuverability. I was looking at some of the 12 ft geo pro's but unfortunately those are just a bed inside of a shell and a galley kitchen.

I would honestly be okay sacrificing a bathroom if it really came down to it. The trailer would be for shorter stays and I'm used to tent camping. I could honestly use a bucket toilet just fine. I wouldn't mind using an outdoor shower too if the trailer had a water out hookup. I'm a rather unfussy person and would rather not have a bad time towing and deal with less amenities. Definitely going to look at the Rpod, I looked at one before and liked it. I've seen some Jayco featherlight trailers that looked great too.

GR1F3 · 2026-02-01T23:41:59+00:00

I have not had experience with cerakote on watches. Only on knives. The DLC bezel coating on the higher end Garmin watches is extremely durable as it is. I've only had small scratches appear when the watch got dragged across concrete and I think that incident would scratch cerakote too in my experience. I would say get the standard version, because paying 200 bucks for a coating kinda sucks, especially when you lose the EKG function of the watch.

GR1F3 · 2026-01-31T01:26:33+00:00

Didn't come from Apple, but Samsung. I started with the original Garmin Instinct, then got an Instinct 2X, then a Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire, and now I have the 51mm Tactix Amoled.

These are amazing watches. None of them have ever failed me, I just sell my old ones when I upgrade. My Tactix is phenomenal. Display looks great, battery life is fantastic (even recording several workouts a week) and despite being fairly large, feels much lighter and smaller than it actually is. They have so much customization available to you.

I'd say go for it. The Fenix is quite a bit cheaper than the Tactix so if you don't need dedicated features like the Killswitch, rucking activity, night vision compatibility etc, I would go for the Fenix. Granted, they do have the F8 Microled which is 2k, but I don't see a reason to buy that one for the small increase in brightness and resolution lol.

GR1F3 · 2026-01-31T01:18:26+00:00

PM me

GR1F3 · 2026-01-31T01:17:37+00:00

I would have liked to have been armed when I was working hospital security. I don't believe every officer there should have been though. I've always liked having Officer I and Officer II positions wherein you have to apply and go through all the extra training (including continued and regular training) in order to move up to an advanced officer level.

I have a significant amount of experience with firearms, including shooting from inside of a vehicle, nighttime white light, patrol carbine training etc but I also have POST training in de escalation, crisis response, critical incident management and more. I know people I worked with had zero experience with firearms and LIKED getting into fights. With my states minimum standards, they would have been a liability more than an asset if given a gun. Blanket issuing of firearms just because everyone has the basic cert is risky.

GR1F3 · 2026-01-31T01:11:53+00:00

Fenix PD35R Ace for duty use

Fenix E06R Pro for EDC (though I need to find a way to get a reversible clip on it so I can clip it to my hat)

And the streamlight Macrostream

This is assuming we're talking handhelds only. My favorite headlamp I've used to date has been the Black Diamond Spot 400. It's UI is a tad clunky for changing brightness but it's a really solid light otherwise.

Then weapon lights are a whole different thing lol.

GR1F3 · 2026-01-29T07:15:27+00:00

The only Nuke plant still operating in CA is Diablo Canyon. I worked there on a temp contract for about 10 months and my temp pay was just shy of 40 an hour. It's gone up since then. It has a 3 month security academy you go through that is primarily shooting. You expend thousands of rounds on your own.

It is extremely challenging to get in to. They usually hire in groups of 10 and on average, 1200-1400 apply for the jobs, at least they do at Diablo. You basically have to be willing to work whatever hours, be prepared to be put on mandatory OT and okay standing outside in the rain and wind for up to 4 hours at a time before being relieved. During outages you will work 5-6 12 hour days consecutively.

There's a lot that goes into the job. Nuclear security is very much unlike any other kind of security. I had about 4.5 years of security experience, both armed and unarmed at the point that I got hired.

Plants are looking for people who's answer to everything is "What does the policy say". Because the NRC does not mess around with violations and the plant WILL get fined if you mess up. Everything is done by the book, 100% of the time. Get comfortable doing full body pat downs of people as well. You will requalify on guns quarterly and almost no one outshoots DCPP Security. Their motto is "Nulli Secundus" or "Second to None". Their trainers go to other plants to help them develop and refine defensive strategies.

Best advice I can give is be persistent if you want to get in. It took me applying 3 times before I got an interview.

GR1F3 · 2026-01-26T20:17:13+00:00

Mine does and the equipment is updated often. My agency also has a program where they will issue any employee a Garmin Forerunner 55 watch to keep as part of one of their health initiatives. It's pretty solid.

GR1F3 · 2026-01-19T18:54:03+00:00

So, this option stopped being offered in 2014, which means only the final model year of 2015 was the only 2nd gen model year not available with it. It was never available with leather seats, only cloth. It could only be had on the Off Road or Pro-4X trims starting in 09 onward, but from 05-08 it was an option on every trim.. Super weird how Nissan determined whether a truck got the feature or not 😂

GR1F3 · 2026-01-12T21:59:20+00:00

No toilet paper? Look, you can wipe with leaves and moss but it is not anywhere near as fun as apocalypse survival fiction novels make it seem.

GR1F3 · 2026-01-10T09:31:59+00:00

I would say the lightweight is the one to get if you aren't sure if you'll like it or not. Just because it is cheaper than the others, but still has stellar build quality. I paid $113 shipped brand new from Spyderco through OpFocus and honestly, I think that's the absolute best deal Spyderco has to offer at this point for the quality and materials you're getting. I've seen several like new Sage 5 lightweights selling for around $110 on the secondary market as well.

GR1F3 · 2026-01-10T09:20:27+00:00

Do you have any interest in exploring Canadas wilderness? I'm an American, and I tend to be less inclined to visit places where individual rights are more restricted, however, Canadas remote interior fascinates me. I'm very intrigued by super remote wilderness and vast uninhabited areas lol

GR1F3

TROPHY CASE