It took me about two years (Navy time) to find the Green Doors, and almost 27 years to find the exit doors! Who said we get smarter with age? But it actually worked out far better than I could have imagined. Training, SURTOPS, and Career Counselor billets made me realize I really enjoyed teaching. A year after USN retirement, I was an NJROTC instructor in a SC school. Great program, great kids (mostly), great fellow instructor (even though he WAS a dang Marine!). A good run of 16 years - all the fun of USN, but without the ugly side effects!
I'm now fully retired..."on the dole" as someone once said. I'm an elementary school classroom mentor, and spend two days a week volunteering at the USO. I only do THAT because I get free coffee...and because the "Boss" threatened me with bodily harm if I didn't get out of "her" house!