Camp Life

Remember what it was like to live in the dorm at college?  Where you and a roomate share this tiny space and there is a floor full of rooms just like it filled with even more people?  That is pretty much exactly what it is like here.  I live in a connex, which is a building made out of shipping containers, basicually each room is one container and is shared by 2-3 people. They named it the SWAMP, which I love since I am a huge Mash Fan.  I am lucky in that I only have one roommate, her name is Doll, she is pretty cool and tolerates my wicked ways well enough, so I can't complain.  We partitioned off the room to have a litle added privacy but is still a shared room and you can always hear what the other person is doing.  I am also lucky in that the bathroon is just across the hall.  There are three shower stalls, two toilets and two sinks.  Im not exactly sure how many woman are on my floor and share it, but i would say 10-15.  Some mornings it can get a little hairy, but so far it has worked out.  The only problem comes when there isn;t any water and you cant take a shower, wash your hands, or flush the toilet.  That has only happened a few times in the month I have been here, so I guess it could be alot worse. 

Heading outside there are several  more buildings that look just like mine.  Many are housing buildings and some are workspaces.  Across the street is one of the chow halls...it has the longest lines, but in my opinion the best food.  Not too much further down is a gathering place for many, there is a fun patio with a tree and flowers, a video shop, the green bean coffee shop, mwr where you can rent movies and games, they also have pool tables and fooshball tables as well.  Next to that is one of the gyms, and inside the gym is the movie room with couches and a big screen tv.  My friend Ty and I frequently enjoy relaxing on the cumfy couches and watching movies...sometimes we even get to choose what we watch! (We are in the midst of the Star Wars Saga as I had never seen them.)  Outside of the gym is the clam shell, this is where all of the big activities take place.  Any group training is done here, church services, and the fun stuff like bands, salsa night, karokee night etc.  Througout the area there are many places to shit and chat and relax.  It is nice to have so much so close.  My office is a bit further away...it probably takes 2-3 minutes to walk there. and from there it is another minute or two to the other DFAC. 

DFAC's are very important places.  Firstly because I love to eat.  Food is GOOD!  So I always make sure to get in there for dinner and then I stock up on snacks and necessities that i might need for later in the day like cookies, cereal, beef jerky (for the dogs) fruit, and beverages.  I have to say that even though I enjoy and appreciate having someone else cook for me, I would much rather cook for myself.  And for some reason no one has thought up Veggie burgers or morning star products.  Might make things easier.  But I guess there is always salad.

Overall its a pretty small camp. I have found that once I become aware of a person I see them everywhere and because it is the same people over and over again it tends to begin to feel like stalking...just ask my stalker he'll tell you.  I like the closeness of the community though.  It seems like you cannot go some where and not know anyone, kind of makes me feel like I'm on cheers or something.

There are some luxeries there though, there is a pizza place that should stay open for another few months, there are several haji shops where you can get rugs, scarves, various knick nacks, and a custom made suit for $60.  There is a nice courtyard filled with gazeebos and roses where lovers go to cuddle up and where the rest of the guys just go to hang out because it is so pretty! There is also the lovely Green Spa that I told you about previously as well as the PX.  The PX i have a love hate relationship with.  This is for a few reasons.  Ihe first is that the flooring and stair structure of the building are really odd and being the klutz that I am I frequently trip over the floor or invisible stairs.  However they have things that I like a need, a little secion on skin care and personal hygiene, a large section of growth hormones for guys trying to get ripped, a small secion of various household goods you might want.  as well as a junk food sction an electronics area, and military supply area.  I have found that my favorite area is the junk food section....i try not to eat too much junk food, but i have a hard time resisting sour cream and onion ruffles and as i was waiting in line i spied a microwave bake brownie, so I had to get two.  Bake that bad boy up, throw on some ice cream and hot fudge I scored from the DFAC, We were in heaven.  I mean you can almost have it like you were back home.  Love it!