Another Alabama welcome, it is a shame you have to wait so long to get back home.
Got a job with Union Pacific Railroad a couple years ago. The retirement benefits are unbelievable!! Thus the 13 years of purgatory! It's not that bad, you can't beat spring, summer (especially summer) & fall here with a stick. But winters really suck!!! I know it gets much colder further north, but for a south Georgia country boy this is just too dang cold!!!!!