I was raised hunting and fishing in the southeast United States. I was very fortunate considering that I am also the son of a US Navy sailor, which usually entails moving all over the world every few years. In spite of that, we were able to mostly bounce between Charleston, SC and Camden County, GA. If not for this, I might have had a much different childhood.

Once I was old enough I joined the Navy myself and deployed a couple of times. Once to the Northern Arabian Gulf in 2004 and again in 2005 for a cake walk trip to northern Europe. Basically a vacation.

After leaving the military I met my wife, Katie, and went through the hell of the 2008 recession. I fought and clawed to stay afloat by getting a job in the oilfield in Louisiana. Any job was a good job during those times but an offshore rig worker doesn’t have much of a home life.

So I took a chance and moved home with nothing. No job, no money, and no idea what I would do next. I dabbled in insurance and odd jobs until ultimately having the good fortune of being a first mate on a charter boat. This was a lifelong dream of mine so working for tips seemed like a great deal to me.

A short time later I would get my captain’s license and start running a boat of my own and growing The Georgia Fishing Company. I became the most recognizable and busiest fishing guide in my little corner of the Georgia coast.

That’s when life threw me another curve ball… our first child. I had learned enough about the fishing business around here to know that you can’t count on a long enough season, good enough weather, and a fully functioning boat enough to raise a child. 

I decided then to pursue a second career as a firefighter. Jobs were still scarce at that time so I was fighting for one of twelve spots amongst over 400 applicants. I came in at number 13… right on the bubble. I wasn’t certified so they wouldn’t hire me, but they were willing to sponsor me to go to the Georgia Fire Aacademy. I wouldn’t be paid, I wouldn’t get a uniform, and I would have to wear expired training gear. Other rookies were dressed in brand new uniforms, getting paid like they were already on shift, had meal cards, and brand new gear with their names on it. I had to run up a credit card for food and gas and when I went home on the weekends I would run charters on Saturday and Sunday to help pay the bills and drive right back to the Academy on Sunday night. And I was GRATEFUL and happy to do it.

That chapter of my life lasted a decade and all around the same time I sold The Georgia Fishing Company to a couple of guys from Florida… maybe they should rename it… and left my career as a firefighter. I did what everyone does when they’re having a mid-life identity crisis and I got my real estate license.

Since then I’ve opened my own real estate office, built a home(stead), and slowed down the pace of life a little. I train jiu jitsu with both of my sons, Jackson and Ethan, and we hunt, fish, and do farm chores as a family. I have the good fortune of being able to homeschool my oldest son, and with Katie being a teacher I have the best back-up I could ask for.

We have 9 working dogs and 1 little white dog that is good for barking at the UPS man and that’s about it. We also keep around 20 chickens and a couple of rabbits with the occasional hogs mixed in. 

I look forward to sharing more of my experiences, thoughts, and adventures here. I hope you enjoy.