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Dan Diego

San Diego to Tampa

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My fellow SDAR brothers & sisters:
 
I wanted to let you know that I’m retiring effective 12/31/2017 and my wife Dee and I are moving to Florida shortly after. 
 
We want to care for Dee’s aging mom in Tampa and I was unable to find a job in that area.
 
I absolutely love our current situation: this job, the work, the people, the riding opportunities, the location…but this is a decision we are both good with.
 
As well, I plan to finally embark on a ride to Ushuaia that I've been dreaming about for a long time. 
 
I've been with my current employer since August 1987...and a Marine before that. So even though it may seem I'm retiring a little early, I've put in some years. 
 
Those who know me, know I'm kind of private--maybe too much so. All apologies for that. 
 
I've enjoyed meeting and riding with every one of you since Randy scooped me and my big fat Triumph off the Montezuma Grade so many years ago. Bike Slut then took me and my big fat GS up the Kernan. 
 
And I've gone through 6 or 7 bikes. 
 
I have some local rides and at least one more Baja ride planned so I sure hope to see you out on the trail soon. 
 
So there ya go; more to follow.

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Wow, congratulations on retiring. We’ll miss you for sure around here. That’s really awesome of you guys to be there for Dee’s mom? 

Keep in touch, hopefully we can get another ride in before you leave?

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Dan, yes you will be missed. Even though we never got to ride together, the times we talked at the meetings and other times were enjoyable. Good thing about technology, FB and the fact you will probably keep the same phone number I hope. You won't be far away from a conversation. 

Kelly

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Who’s going to show me all the good barbeque places.

Hope to do some more rides with ya before you leave. Wish you the best!

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I've read so many of your posts and you are one of the guys on here that I had always hoped to meet and ride with.  Congratulations on an "early" retirement; I wish you all the best in your new location!

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1 hour ago, socalhodaka said:

Dan, yes you will be missed.  

Kelly

I will definitely miss your lone shoe photos, Kelly!

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Congrats! I am a huge fan of Tampa, and most of the rest of South Florida. We'll be there on vacation around end of March! As stated above, please post the greatest food spots around.

All the best!

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2 hours ago, Dan Diego said:

I will definitely miss your lone shoe photos, Kelly!

Good thing for FB

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Retirement is what we all work for in our live. Enjoy it, we might do a round trip after you have settled down in FL.

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Ahhh...the Florida retirement life...

I can just see you now watering your crabgrass, Flamingo statue covered lawn wearing a Baro shirt, Panama hat, too small shorts, one flip flop, and holding a big cigar. Congrats! But as mentioned above...your humor and ride reports will be missed.

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20 minutes ago, Mikey777 said:

Ahhh...the Florida retirement life...

I can just see you now watering your crabgrass, Flamingo statue covered lawn wearing a Baro shirt, Panama hat, too small shorts, one flip flop, and holding a big cigar. Congrats! But as mentioned above...your humor and ride reports will be missed.

Ah, man! I love that description! I do want to wear tall back socks with sandals, though...

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Bummer, we'll be down that way in FLA before u get there Dan. By January, we should be heading south in Mexico.

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I'm going say it.....Boo :thumbsdown_anim:

Maybe when I'm done crying, I'll post something a little more positive....Like, I'm going miss you. Or, you're one of my best SDAR friends...or it was always a pleasure helping you pick your bike up...or, who can I count on to show up for a ride with a huge hole in their header pipe and doesn't even realize it....:big_boss:

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20 hours ago, Oracle said:

....Like it was always a pleasure helping you pick your bike up...

Photos or it never happened! ?

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On 11/3/2017 at 4:10 PM, Oracle said:

I'm going say it.....Boo :thumbsdown_anim:

Maybe when I'm done crying, I'll post something a little more positive....Like, I'm going miss you. Or, you're one of my best SDAR friends...or it was always a pleasure helping you pick your bike up...or, who can I count on to show up for a ride with a huge hole in their header pipe and doesn't even realize it....:big_boss:

 

On 11/4/2017 at 0:58 PM, Dan Diego said:

Photos or it never happened! ?

Oh it happend not only was i the one to replace said pipe I still have it in the garage...

Bummed your leaving now who am I going to sucker into going to rides spur of the moment cause were bored

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Well crap.  This means we'll never get to ride Baja together.  (That may be a plus for your retirement . . .)  So now who is going to join me in going around gates we're not supposed to (that didn't happen) or almost getting run off the road by drunken Indians (that didn't happen), or any of the other stupid things we have (not) done over the years??

We need to get fish n' chips at least one more time before you leave my Brother.  I'll call you since I know you won't call me. 

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Ha ha! All true stories! (Not true at all, but contact my attorney, anyhow.)

I'm in the Gaslamp now. Michos has good street tacos. Calling you to set it up. 

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Good for you Dan!  My retirement is still ~6yrs out on the horizon (worst case).  Enjoy ALL Florida has to offer & keep the wheels Turning.

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Well you know I am not going to let you go without one last ride.  The rides we have shared and the time inside places we would never tell our moms about!   That alone Poncho tells you what Lefty thinks about you.   You better tell Dee that I will be showing up with a bottle to talk about things in life that we could never fix but in the moment in our talks we think we can.  I have told you before if I would of met you in my 20's i would of never gotten married or had kids.  I would of been in and out of jail and riding from town to town with you till this day. We would work then we would get sick of the town and move on.  I for sure would of had a tattoo by now.  You have been a close ridding buddy and alway will be.  I now have a great excuse to ride across country to see you.  I will let you and Dee get situated first for a couple of weeks then I will pack my bike to meet up with you in the Key's and show up with some Sparkle Donkey and start fixing the world with you.

When you and Dee leave San Diego I am going to escort you out on my KLR. 

Maybe we could open Poncho & Lefty's Motorcycle Cantina

You will never be far from me brother!

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On 11/7/2017 at 8:17 PM, danrider said:

 I have told you before if I would of met you in my 20's i would of never gotten married or had kids.  I would of been in and out of jail and riding from town to town with you till this day.

You will never be far from me brother!

That has gotta be the nicest message I've received from any of my friends, family and co-workers since I announced my retirement and imminent departure. 

And the reason Kathy gives me "that look" every time I roll up to your driveway on my bike!

Ride planning now, my friend. 

#SparkleDonkeyIsTequila

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