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If you know where Austin, Texas is, I grew up just north of there in what we now call a little ex-urban town Leander. I couldn’t get out of high school fast enough and essentially moved to Austin when I started at the University of Texas as a Liberal Arts major in 1990. I took the slow route to graduation and got out in 5 years with a great education but no idea of what I wanted to do professionally.
Through a friend, I got in with Apple Computer doing technical support on the phone. I made decent money for not a lot of effort and sort of coasted in life for a while. I moved to California as part of the new Apple Retail Store roll out in 2001. I had a great experience. I met my now wife Devon at a karaoke bar on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica two days before the grand opening on the first Apple Retail Stores. Shortly after meeting Devon I moved south from the San Francisco bay area and lived in Los Angeles with her for a couple of years.
In 2004, we moved to verdant Portland, Oregon and bought a house. I worked for a local Macintosh repair shop for a few years. After my 35th(-ish) round of professional burn out, I got inspired to go back to school and become a nurse. I graduated from the University of Portland in the summer of 2012 with my BSN (which makes me dual degreed in the worst way possible - 2 bachelors degrees). I worked at a hospital for 6 years and moved into Home Health Nursing in December of 2018.
Our daughter came into our life in 2009. Our son followed just a few years later in 2013. He still follows her around.
I’ve had too many hobbies. I had tabletop roleplaying games as my dearest hobby through high school. Then I switched to LARPing for a while. I was very into LARPing. I spent enough time that I learned how to sew (serviceably) and even earned a knight-hood. Yeah, I was *that* guy for a while.
Motorcycles found me soon after college. They stayed with me on and off until December 2017, when I caught a cable to the throat on the way to work one morning (that’s a whole ‘other story that I’m happy to tell over beers.) I have sold my motorcycle and gear. I miss it, but not enough to start riding again.
I began hiking and bicycling more seriously while I lived in Los Angeles and after I stopped smoking. When I moved to the Pacific Northwest, my hiking blossomed into some light mountaineering and backpacking. I began commuting by bike roughly 16 miles each day in 2005 and only stopped in 2012 because I need to drive to do my job as a home health nurse (though I’m scheming to change that). I also got into overnight bike camping in last three years and I’ve had almost a dozen trips, including one out to the coast.
Most recently, I got bitten by the amateur radio bug. I’ve earned my Amateur Extra license and I favor the idea of QRP operation for a couple of reasons; I’m cheap and the radios are more portable so I can combine radios with my other interests (bikes and backpacking). I have no idea where it will take me.
Current toys of note:
Surly Big Dummy long tail bike with Big Dummy bags
Surly Disc Trucker with 700c wheels
Yaesu FT 60R HT radio
Just starting. Interested in activating more than chasing. Learning CW. Want to leverage lightweight/ultralight strategies from backpacking for ham radio in the field.
see qrz.com
Just starting now (June 2019). Elecraft KX-3, te-ne-ke dual lever paddle, wire antennas, bioenno batteries. Learning CW.
Occasional chaser, all CW
I chase, occasionally, and would like to log contacts for the activators. I have a KX3 for portable use and may activate in the future.
Active duty USCG Helicopter Avionics tech and aircrew member. I spend a lot of my free time volunteering on Search and Rescue teams and occasionally play with radios. I just recently found out about SOTA and have been really enjoying it thus far.
I enjoy activating as my home isn't ideal of radio so not a lot of chasing to e had. I run a Kx3 and a buddipole vertical for activations thus far.
old retired guy with new license
I've hiked the mountains all my life and I'm looking forward to taking a 20 meter rig along.
Washington resident, avid hiker. Extra Class, Snohomish County Hams Club Training Coordinator.
Just getting started with my wife.
Outdoors: Rivers,Mountains,Sagebrush,boat,Dog,Exercise, pedal to the
metal, appreciation of the Pacific NW, oldman Moe banging around where Chief Moses and his people once called home, its still theirs.
Exposed to SOTA first time early summer 2018, via KG7VLX ,answered his call in Idaho W7I-BC066 Thorn Butte. I have an old Kennwood 2m fm/ssb, Arrow yagi, Yaesu ft-60r, FT 891..solar panel. Up in hills I go !
I am a member of the White Rock Amateur Radio club. My main interest in amateur radio is with safety in the back-country and with doing SOTA activities.
Activating summits mainly in the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver regions. For 2m I use a Kenwood HT with a 4 element Arrow Yagi. On HF I use a KX2. Currently I am learning Morse so I can use it for SOTA.
A newer radio operator, originally KG7NZP, I'm looking forward to putting my used HF gear to use!!
Brand new. Have a used FT 897 and a portable Alpha Mag Loop on order. Looking forward to activating:)