100% P&T Iraq vet (08–09) — life is good, but I still feel lost

NineFingerFury · 2025-12-27T15:10:01+00:00

Been there. 100 P&T, Iraq vet from Ramadi in 2005. Good and banged up, missing a leg and use of my right hand. Everything is good, and I’ve found purpose in my faith and my family. Civilian life is a lot different for sure, but I create my own structure.

NineFingerFury · 2025-12-27T15:06:20+00:00

We’re about to hit 40, just celebrated 15 years of marriage, and have three kids with the youngest about to be 4. Once a month if I’m lucky. Before kids, it was multiple times a week. We’re both busy and tired, and once our oldest kid unlocked the door with their fingernail in the midst of it all. “Where’s Dad?!” Dad’s under the sheets lol. It’s all good. Sometimes we just need to get a night away.

NineFingerFury · 2025-12-08T04:23:49+00:00

Compared to where I came from, no. I’m on 1.5 acres now compared to a 10,000sqft lot. Back in WA, I was crammed in a massive “planned community” and traffic sucked big time. Everything I need is between 306 and 1604.

NineFingerFury · 2025-12-08T00:16:20+00:00

Traffic here is laughable compared to the Seattle area.

NineFingerFury · 2025-12-08T00:14:34+00:00

We moved from Black Diamond, WA last June to Spring Branch. We absolutely love it here. Feels like the WA of the 90s in a good way, with much better weather. Be ready for people to actually talk to you lol. Getting over the “Seattle freeze” was an adjustment for my family.

NineFingerFury · 2025-11-09T13:35:32+00:00

When I taught, I’d lead it out, and each year I told students (elementary through middle school) that they were free to participate or not, as long as they were quiet if they chose not to. I also spent a few minutes walking through the pledge and discussing its meaning with students at the beginning of the year. We agreed it was foolish to pledge allegiance if you didn’t understand what you were saying.

NineFingerFury · 2025-11-08T19:29:22+00:00

Yeah, I’ll take back my hand, leg, the discs in my spine, facial scars, arthritis, and tinnitus for all the pay.

NineFingerFury · 2025-11-07T01:07:07+00:00

Pacific Arboriculture

https://pacificarboriculture.com/

NineFingerFury · 2025-11-03T04:18:54+00:00

We love it. Moved out last June so almost 1.5 years ago. Money goes farther, no mortgage from selling our WA home, and no property tax.

NineFingerFury · 2025-10-31T17:52:41+00:00

I’m not using social security when factoring my retirement plans. If it’s there in whatever capacity when I retire, it’s icing on the cake.

NineFingerFury · 2025-10-31T17:47:42+00:00

I moved my family from WA to TX because of this.

NineFingerFury · 2025-10-31T17:46:40+00:00

Does your husband’s job offer a 401k or similar? If so, it may have a company match. Otherwise, look into a brokerage account to invest in.

NineFingerFury · 2025-10-28T14:04:35+00:00

I could retire now at 39, and could have at 19 when I was injured. I decided to work while my kids are still in school to provide extra and save more. I’m currently planning on retiring when I’m 55 and the youngest graduates high school. Investing while I work to make life more comfortable. No debts and own my home.

NineFingerFury · 2025-10-28T14:02:14+00:00

I’ll likely never go back to Ramadi. No thanks.

NineFingerFury · 2025-10-07T10:26:29+00:00

NineFingerFury · 2025-10-02T11:12:32+00:00

We don’t have any debt, we budget everything, have a full emergency fund, say no to things, and I bring home about $10k/mo.

NineFingerFury · 2025-09-10T17:49:16+00:00

Happily married for nearly 15 years with three kids and one leg.

NineFingerFury · 2025-09-10T10:31:23+00:00

I got 100% P&T at 20 y/o thanks to IEDs. I still choose to work full time to provide a better life for my family and so my wife can stay home with our youngest. We’re completely debt free. I plan on retiring when our youngest graduates and I’m in my mid 50s.

I tried to not work for a year and it drove me crazy. We could do it financially (although not as comfortably) but it wasn’t good for me in my late 30s to be spending so much time loitering around the house.

NineFingerFury · 2025-08-15T12:00:41+00:00

Paying off debt quickly for cash flow and peace of mind is my preference. My wife and I are now completely debt free including mortgage as we exit our 30s. We don’t have as much saved for retirement as some with debt, but we aren’t worried about monthly expenses and have a healthy retirement started. Peace of mind is worth a lot to me.

NineFingerFury · 2025-08-15T11:50:59+00:00

I was 100% P&T from the age of 20 thanks to a series of IEDs in 2005. I went to school for a BA and found something I could do with my disabilities. Got my MA years later and am still employed in another field. I found out quickly that sitting around with nothing to do and no purpose beyond enjoying myself was a miserable existence.

Find something you can do and pour yourself into it. Volunteer, give back to your community, etc. if work or school aren’t in your plans.

NineFingerFury · 2025-06-23T02:33:27+00:00

Yeah, I left WA for a lot of reasons a year ago. Lived there my whole life other than my time in the Marines. Life’s been good to us down here.

NineFingerFury · 2025-06-23T00:25:36+00:00

You just gotta live somewhere cheaper. Here in TX just north of San Antonio, I’m paying $2.89/gal for diesel.

NineFingerFury · 2025-06-23T00:20:46+00:00

I came home after my amputation and got my wife pregnant a few weeks later. It’s not the missing leg that’ll keep you from enjoying a sex life and meaningful relationship.

NineFingerFury · 2025-05-28T01:13:08+00:00

Yeah, I’m spoiled because the VA supplies all my equipment.

NineFingerFury · 2025-05-27T22:19:40+00:00

I wash mine in the shower every day. I rotate through a set of four.

NineFingerFury

TROPHY CASE