So, I'll be leaving the US soon

[Recursion]

I did my twenties as a Marine and served a lot of places. Now I'm in my thirties and I've found the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, and she's a Foreign Service Officer. So, we're getting married and I'll spend 20 of the next 30 years abroad with her.

Some people don't do well with staying in one place; I'm one of them, and we're drawn to the military. We're also drawn to the foreign service.

Anyways, our next post is Mumbai, and part of our job is helping out Americans in the region. Anybody heading near Mumbai please come say hello.

I love this country very much, for all its faults. Part of representing the U.S. overseas is that even as a spouse I can't say stuff as freely as I could before. So, you might see less of me here. Please understand that this is not out of lack of love for DU, just out of how things work.

You've been wonderful friends and I'm so glad to have been here, and I will stick around as much as is possible. Take care, guys.

[HipChick]

1. Thank you for your service...

congrats on your wedding and enjoy your time in Mumbai

[ChisolmTrailDem]

8. +1000 eom

[yourout]

16. +1001. Thank you and stay safe.

[octoberlib]

2. Congratulations and take care! nt

[BlueJazz]

3. I've always enjoyed your theads and will miss you. Hope you have a ball and great happiness.

[babylonsister]

4. Sounds fantastic to me!

Enjoy your new love, and your travels. I am so jealous; I would if I could. You will learn so much!

Take care and keep in touch!

[Squinch]

5. Oh, no!!! I just met you! Congratulations and all the best. Keep in touch when you can.

[Recursion]

13. I'll still say hi, Squinch, fear not.

I just can't as a spouse say everything freely. And that's the world we live with; it's not an injustice. I do love all of you DUer's, though.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

6. Congratulations on your impending nuptials! Your life

sounds exciting and I'm happy for both of you. I haven't been here long but I've seen you around and I know you will be missed. I hope you find India to be an exciting and fulfulling adventure and we'll be waiting when you return to the U.S. later in life.

Farewell.

[The Straight Story]

7. Upload some pics! And congrats to you both! (nt)

[Recursion]

11. That I will do, TSS, fear not!

We're having a US wedding in DC, and then a three day wedding in Kolkata ("Calcutta", by old spellings).

But, seriously, a lot of what we do is help out Americans abroad: if you are on the Subcontinent, come say hi. It's what where' there for.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

23. how very exciting! Congratations!

Yes, share pics--------------and RECIPES!

(Indian foooooood. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm)



Wishing you both MUCH happiness.

[sellitman]

9. Happy travels

This place will always be here for you.

[Tikki]

10. If they have online access in Mumbai you can check in from time to time...

Sounds like you two are going to busy doing important work...wish you
both the very best.


Tikki

[Recursion]

12. Oh, I'll keep reading

But my fiancee will be up to be an ambassador in about 20 years, and politics being how they are I need as small of a paper trail as possible. Who knows? If politics subside I can come back freely.

[Tikki]

17. We understand...We'll fill the pages with as much important info as we can.

Tikki

[Hekate]

37. Discretion and diplomacy...

Not two words often associated with DU, but absolutely key to your new life. I have a cousin in the Foreign Service, and even if he wasn't a conservative at heart I think he wouldn't be caught dead here. Take that into consideration.

I wish you a long and happy marriage. Thanks for your service, past and future.

Hekate

[Cooley Hurd]

14. Does this have ANYTHING to do with your recent posts regarding the 2nd Amendment?

You've been quite vocal in your defense of it. I think a backstory might be in order?

[Recursion]

15. Not particularly; I'm going to places with no recognition of a right to keep and bear arms

They are what they are. My job as a diplomat's husband is to represent the US as well as I can.

I wish I could solve our issues with firearms; I can't. I can be a good American in Mumbai, and represent our country to the best of my ability. I hope you're with me on that.

[TheOther95Percent]

18. Congratulations on your impending marriage.

I wish you and your bride a very happy life together.

[mailman82]

19. Ooorah! Brother

Happy for you! Congrats,enjoy your adventures! Godspeed!

[rocktivity]

20. Let's not say goodbye, then

Just write when you can, congrats on your marriage, and thank you for your service.


rocktivity

[Ligyron]

21. Congrats and Best Wishes

At least I got you straightened out on Pit bulls

Seriously, stay safe and good luck!

[TheManInTheMac]

22. Thank you very much for your service, and stay safe.

[renate]

24. color me super envious!

I hope you love it there! I wish my life had led me to live all over the world!

Have fun!

[muriel_volestrangler]

25. I knew there was a reason to ask for the Indian time zone to be added to DU this morning

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1240&pid=193093

Good luck, and all the best for the wedding!

[lillypaddle]

26. Congrats

and the very best of luck to you. Don't be a stranger. Check in and let us know how you are doing. I hope there is much love and excitement headed your way.

[southernyankeebelle]

27. I have never been to the part of the world. I envy you. Have a wonderful life and enjoy it

to your fullest. I lived in Europe and the Phillipines and I loved both. Miss living in other countries. One thing I learned was always mix with the locals and try to speak their language. I always made sure I bought my little yellow translation book. You'd be surprised how the locals like your effort and go out of their way to help you.

[geckosfeet]

28. Safe travels. Congrats on finding your partner.

[williesgirl]

29. Much happiness to you and your wife. Thanks for what you're both doing to

help Americans and represent our country so well. We'll miss you here, but we understand there's limitations placed on you. Have fun and stay safe. Let us know how you're doing at least monthly if you can.

[tledford]

30. Oh, man, it'll be a pleasure for the food alone!

Not to mention everything else! Travel safely and enjoy India.

[spanone]

31. have a good friend in mumbai....be safe

[judesedit]

32. God bless you and your significant other. The U.S. is losing a good person but we're happy to have

you representing this country. Just remember...peace, love, forgiveness and understanding are the most important things in this life. Be happy.

Thank you so much for your service. I, myself, was previously an Army wife. Husband U.S. Army/Viet Nam, Mother and Father, U.S. Army/World War II, brother U.S. Marine/VietNam, brother U.S. Air Force/Germany.

"Merry Christmas" and I wish you many blessings in the years to come

[Hulk]

33. Good luck to you!

Of course TY for your service, as I'm sure you thank me for mine. I find that "cliche'" getting very worn out these days...but maybe that's just me. I guess watching fox-nonsense can do that to you - pat you on the back with a little verbal praise, and then kicking you in the face when it comes to anything of substance.

I wish you and your wife well. I envy you. Actually we are somewhat alike, except I'm done with service to my country in a professional way. I married a Mexican woman five years ago, and we are here in the USA ONLY until we comply with all the regulations to get her US citizenship and we can get back out of country again.

I love my country, as do you. There are still a majority of Americans who I am proud to be part of. But I don't have to tell you, if you've been a reader of DU over the past years, that this country is really torn apart and divided today. I've felt like we are really losing our focus and since the 80's I've been watching this country split further and further apart. Maybe one day we can hold accountable these seditious forces that are doing their best to tear this country in two; but until then, I think we are in for some tough struggles.

Living abroad is a rich and rewarding experience, no matter where you chose. I'm in my mid-60's now, and I still want to live a spell in Bolivia, or some other central South American country for a spell. I've visited nearly all of Europe a dozen times, and I've been to Peru and Colombia in South America; and the economy is inviting to sustain Americans on our Social Security benefits or small pensions quite well. And the people are so very, very rich in spirit. I just love them all!

I've also been to Vietnam, but those were some pretty awful days, and I hear things are better now, but I don't care for the humidity and have never been that turned on by the Orient. So my sunset years will be spent combing around South America with my lovely Spanish speaking wife and I'm gaining the language slowly, but surely. I also speak German semi-fluently, so traveling has been a rich part of my life.

I wish you well; and I encourage EVERYONE - ALL Americans - to travel outside of your homeland. You gain such a rich perspective on the world, and you have a benefit most human beings will never be able to experience - wealth. Take advantage of it. The world is a big place, and not everyone or everything is dependent on the USA for it's existence....even though fox-nonsense would have you believe otherwise; but then again, most of their viewers haven't been outside their home state, let alone their national borders.

We only walk across the stage of life once; so make it a worthwhile journey!

[Rider3]

34. Wishing you the best of luck!

[HCE SuiGeneris]

35. Be well.

Enjoy your life. Exercise the intelligence and character that you possess to create a better world.

I wish you and your soul mate happiness.

[roguevalley]

36. best of luck to both of you. Mazel Tov!

[GreenPartyVoter]

38. Congrats and good luck!

[Fla Dem]

39. All the best to you and your future wife on this new chapter of your life. n/t