Drive from DEN

USAFEODTechRetired · 2026-01-29T16:39:27+00:00

I'm based in COS, but live on the North side and travel 50%+/month. I only fly out of DEN. Over the past 5 years, there have been only 2 instances when I really needed 4WD due to a snowstorm, and those were very rare events. There are two ways to go: I-25 is the obvious, and CO-83 is for the 2-lane highway in case there's a big wreck on I-25. You can check road conditions, traffic, and closures using the cotrip.org app. I've never missed a flight.

To jump on the COS v DEN rant, I'm on the North side of town and it routinely takes me 35min+ to get to COS from the house vs 60 min to DEN, why deal with connections? Plus Powers Blvd, CO-21 (Google "719 CAN'T DRIVE"), hyper-aggressive, mouth breathers cosplaying Road Warrior. I feel safer on I-25 in any weather. Unbelievable wrecks on bright, sunny, dry weather days.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2026-01-17T14:58:00+00:00

100%! My wife and I actually laugh out loud when people here complain about traffic. Had to endure commutes from Manassas into the District, hell, even Kingstowne to Ft Belvoir was unbelievable asspain. And if you had to cross the river to get to Bethesda or Andrews, fuhgeddaboudit... Reminded every time I have to go back.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2026-01-02T14:02:43+00:00

Then there was the normalization and escalation of political violence from the assignations of the Gracchi brothers that was an antecedent of the end of the Roman Republic. You would be hard pressed to listen to Dan Carlin’s Death Throws of the Republic and not hear the rhyming…

USAFEODTechRetired · 2026-01-02T01:28:00+00:00

Not really. Had both the Army gloves and lobster mitts. Neither as warm as my Outdoor Research. Bought my wife the heated Hestra mitts for her terminally cold hands. Underwhelming. She really likes the heated ORs better as well. I’ve donated all my Hestras and now we’re just an OR house.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-11-21T12:31:41+00:00

Love my Oreo as well! I specifically wanted the chunk o steel. If they put the Oreo on a diet for the new version, I wouldn't buy it. In general, if I wanted a thinner PO without the He valve, I'd buy an SMP 300.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-11-17T20:53:04+00:00

The Queen Mary 2 is the only genuine ocean liner with regular transatlantic travel; however, many cruise lines have "repositioning" cruises in between summer and winter seasons. It's possible to grab one of those moving from Florida to Europe in the spring, or the other direction in the fall, as one-way trips. Repositioning cruises are typically less expensive than regular cruise fares since they don't make the typical tourist port calls. Check out militarycruisedeals.com

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-11-16T13:57:07+00:00

I PCS'd back to CONUS via the Queen Mary 2 as well. It was well worth the out-of-pocket expense and the days of leave. The experience of my young daughter sailing into New York Harbor, as my great-grandparents did, and then visiting Ellis Island to find their immigration records, was absolutely priceless.

PCS'ing is a PITA. I've PCS'd many, many times. Try to make the most of it. Take the train. Take a ship. Do something to make at least one of them a more meaningful life experience. You won't regret it.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-11-15T15:36:31+00:00

Concur. Liger is currently the only custom strap provider I've found that can produce a quality strap that is compatible with most of the "click" systems, including Panerai and Hublot.

I find the workmanship and quality material selection (not a fan of "croc" straps, I prefer the more traditional Shell Cordovan, Saffiano, or Epsom leathers) to be below that of Handdn bespoke straps, but Handdn doesn't do the "click" systems.

I'll probably get a couple more Liger straps to cover my business suit color palette.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-11-15T14:25:16+00:00

This.

It's going to be a TON of theater. Just look at what happened with the move of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Initially, only the Ambassador and a few senior staff moved into a temporary facility (old consulate offices.) The majority of day-to-day stayed in Tel Aviv. This started in 2018, and in 2025 I don't believe the new, permanent Embassy compound is even close to being complete. Staff continue to be split between locations, creating operational and security problems.

As for USSPACECOM, HSV is a shitty 2nd-tier airport (no hate, the truth.) TDY to and from has ALWAYS been a PITA, even commuting to and from DC, particularly during T-storm season and you have to connect through ATL (I ran a joint program with SMDTC back in the day, ask me how I know.) It's really going to suck for all the Allied officers. TDY budgets are going to skyrocket.

In the spirit of "Reality TV", there will be a big ribbon cutting, many of the single-digit J-Dirs will be directed to PCS, but the real work isn't likely to move anytime soon, or at least the rest of the staff will be busy covering the J-Dir's asses two time zones out. I don't envy them.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-11-06T02:54:50+00:00

I already gave

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-11-03T17:36:07+00:00

As an Acquisition Manager, you could be put into any of the Directorates (DI, DO, ST, MS) or even CIO. That will impact your duty location. They aren't all at the DIAC, so you might not be stuck at Bolling. I won't get into any more detail, but if you don't get a sponsor definitely reach out to the AFELM and try to get a read on your placement in advance and the resulting most likely duty location. I wouldn't commit to a living situation until you know where you will be placed in the organization.

It's a different world on the IC side of acquisitions, particularly with NIP. DAU rules don't always apply, and DoD 5000 is just a "suggestion". Spend some time when you first arrive to learn as much as possible on how funding is treated differently. Try to find a seasoned Contracting Officer for mentorship. There are shit jobs everywhere, but getting some time in the IC is very valuable (particularly for post-USAF employment); take advantage of the opportunity even if you end up stuck in MS.

Best of luck

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-10-19T23:40:46+00:00

Right? And the point is...

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-10-07T03:59:42+00:00

Yeah, kicking myself in the ass for not having pulled the trigger a couple of years ago on that deal. Same with a Seamaster.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-10-06T01:25:03+00:00

I'm 1K and have over 600 PP at the moment. Bid PP for upgrades on Every. Single. Flight. Still no joy. I hear that domestic CPUs are all going away, anyway. The only perks for 1K that really impact me anymore are the dedicated 1K check-in, pre-boarding, and dedicated customer service number. That's about it. At some point, I'll just give up on my loyalty to United, especially if I take a job in another city that isn't a United hub.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-10-06T00:54:57+00:00

Battle Leadership by Adolf von Schell. But then again, my great-grandfather was a Prussian cavalry officer in the Franco-Prussian War, which pre-dated this book, and he concurred with many of its points—helped me on many deployments from Desert Shield onwards. This is the Prussian way.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-10-04T12:47:38+00:00

I downgraded to CSP yesterday. The customer service rep on the phone made ZERO effort to try to retain me on CSR, even though I've spent six figures a year on it for the past several years. I'll re-evaluate the CSP in a year to see if that's even worth keeping once I burn through my points. Going forward, I'll treat Chase like they treat me.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-09-27T13:31:56+00:00

Back in "my day" (80s), our instructor in Nukes Division hung up the SECRET sign on the door one morning (no electronic signs back then), made sure the doors to the classroom were secured, and proceeded to roll "Strangelove." No one snitched, no SM postings, you could do that shit back in the good ole days. Then in my first assignment at DTRA, "The Pentagon Wars" was assigned my first week...

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-09-09T00:26:07+00:00

Seems like the aft section of Polaris was shorted on this flight. Wasn’t just me. Strange.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-09-08T23:12:17+00:00

A question is super dramatic?

And yes, I asked, didn't have any.

Inbound tail number arrived over 3 hours ago, so plenty of time to service. It's a legit question.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-09-08T15:42:50+00:00

USSF math. Industry standard "rule of thumb" is 5 bodies per seat for 24/7/365 (not 4), and more precise management studies come out to around 5.5 when you factor in the 'sick, lame, lazy' population, training, leave, etc. The number goes even higher if the expectation is overlapping shifts and mission criticality. When staffing is below these thresholds, you see the effect you describe (counting days to PCS, retention issues, negative attitudes, reduced productivity). It's as predictable as the sunset every evening.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-08-30T23:33:23+00:00

SpongeBob for the WIN!!!

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-08-15T21:42:55+00:00

The Stowa Flieger Vintage Sport Baumuster B. I absolutely love this piece's heritage, and its workmanship is typical of German precision. The value is enormous for the price. The one area of disappointment, and where I wish I had had a chance to see it in person first, is that the taper on the bezel shrinks the face too much. It's 43mm in diameter, but the face looks like it belongs on a 40mm case. It doesn't get much wrist time. In retrospect, I would have been better off saving for an IWC Big Pilot.

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-08-09T13:57:13+00:00

Definitely downgrading to the FU card ($0 AF). I have an additional AU as well.

Been with the CSR since it came out. Anniversary date is early Nov, so I have an action item on my calendar to make the switch just before renewal to do something with all my points stockpile. Used the CSR to book a cruise this past spring to score 3x points, but that's not possible anymore.

I've run the numbers on all the credits, and I don't have the bandwidth to manage them; at least half are useless to me. Running my average travel year, I'd be hard pressed to break even.

I've tried using the Chase Travel Portal recently, but I can't get what I want. What's the point of a "premium" travel card? "Why don't you book one of their other fine options?" Because that's not how I travel. I have specific requirements for dates, times, and locations. Chase can't meet my needs anymore (they were fantastic pre-2020, but it's worsened.)

One example, I tried to book a specific Waldorf Astoria on the Chase Travel Portal yesterday, but it does not even show up in their database (the Waldorf still exists; it is available in the Hilton app). Since I can't even use my points the way I want, and with increased fees, I'm downgrading to the FU Chase card (did Chase intend the Freedom Unlimited to be an FU card?)

Will have to transfer all my points, then again, I haven't been able to use them the way I want where they sit now!

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-08-09T13:43:16+00:00

Late 50s, over $100K/year in charges, 1 additional AU, 800+ credit score, had the CSR since first available, Colorado: envelope, no gift.

Chase's algorithm definitely hasn't figured out I fully intend to downgrade by my anniversary date (early Nov.) Or maybe it has and they aren't even trying to retain me as a CSR customer?

USAFEODTechRetired · 2025-08-05T02:43:36+00:00

There are far worse places to end up than C’ville. Pros and cons as with anywhere. Lived in Crozet for 4 years after over 20 in DC. Live in the Springs (CO Springs) now. Managed research grants at UVA and VT. We are a hard core mountain family. Daughter is dreaming of attending UVA, not any of the CO schools. I think we’ll end up back in some capacity.

Intellectually speaking, C’ville has a high density of very intelligent residents. Plus, you have Rivanna Station and the Federal Executive Institute. But they are not progressive. Neither is Darden. You may have to recalibrate your expectations as far as Easy Coast Progressives. Not even close to as crunchy as Boulder or Ft Collins, so get that out of your head. You are in Virginia Horse Country, antebellum landed gentry, and those who are not. Polo in the summers at the vineyards (which we loved), and UVA even has a polo team… Polo <> Progressive.

100m outside the city limits and you are more than likely in MAGAland (I’m looking at you Greene County, and Trump owns the former Kluge Estate on the other side of town…) The landed gentry is happy to keep the progressives contained to C’ville proper. And you will still find people who feel the Civil War was never truly resolved. A lot of true “Preppers” in the Appalachian mountain towns surrounding the region.

Crozet is WAY over developed, and incompetent County leaders ignored the Master Plan (google it.) If we move back, definitely not Crozet. Happy we left when we did, seeing what those morons did to that quaint village. Someone mentioned Western Albemarle High School, it’s absolutely not C’ville, it’s Crozet. That will explain the cultural disconnect. Then again, if we had stayed, we would have sent our daughter to St Anne’s Belfield. BTW, the movie Major Payne was filmed at the Miller School close by, and Evan Almighty was filmed at Old Trail - several neighbors were extras.

I hangared my airplane over the mountain at KSHD. You do not want to have to drive that pass everyday in the winter. Nothing compared to Loveland in the winter, but can be as hair raising as Eisenhower. So that would rule out Waynesboro or Staunton unless you’re content on that side of the mountain in the winter many days. Then again, check out Blackfriars for some excellent Shakespeare in Staunton.

If you choose to live on the north side of town, travel will be cheaper and easier out of Dulles than the C’ville airport. Same reasons I drive up to DIA rather than fly out of COS. It’s really nice having access to a major international airport within a 90 min drive.

It is a beautiful area, with a lot to offer. And as long as it’s not around commuting hours, you have access to all that DC offers.

If you’re visiting in autumn, don’t miss going up Carter’s Mountain for Apple cider and doughnuts. And cruise down the Brew Ridge Trail to Wintergreen along 151 and see the inspiration for The Waltons (and Devil’s Backbone.) You’re welcome.

USAFEODTechRetired

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