Boats Dreams
Last night I dreamt about being on the boat again; it seems to happen about once a month. In this one, I was XO on the Connecticut (and somewhat confused about why I was back in the Navy), and I had to go yell at a newly-qualifed Topside Watch who had just made a 1MC announcement that twice featured the word "fire" without referring to actual combustion or a launch order, and for some reason I didn't have any shoes on.
For those of you who are out, do you still dream about the boat? (I'll take it for granted that you active duty guys do.)
posted by Bubblehead at 10:09 PM
48 Comments:
I have submarine dreams about once a month. After twenty five years, my wife has said I have quit making 1MC announcements in my sleep.
10/27/2009 10:53 PM
Still at prototype... and dreaming about it almost daily.
10/27/2009 10:55 PM
I still have Navy dreams a couple of times per month. Typically I'm on a new ship (to me), there's some emergency happening, and I can't find my way to where I need to be.
My EAOS was in '91 and I'm still dreaming that I'm a NUB :(
10/27/2009 11:06 PM
Reactor scram, I am EOOW, and I have no watchstanders. It is one of those out of body dreams where I watch myself run through the plant and try to do everything. I never get through it all in the dream. The dream started at Prototype, continued on the boat, and I have been out for a few years and still have the dream every couple of months.
BoiseBubba
10/27/2009 11:39 PM
Got out in '81 and still dream about the boat 1-2 times a month.
10/28/2009 3:22 AM
Not a submariner...but have 4000+ hours in P3 and EP-3 variants. Last flight was in 1993, retired in 1998.
Several times a year I'll have vivid dreams that take place on an airplane. Usually things have gone completely toes up (flying upside down or the absence of multiple engines is typical), and the people on the plane are people from my life outside of the navy who know *nothing* about how to fix what's wrong.
I quote smoking in 1999, quite drinking in 1981: still dream about that too.
10/28/2009 3:41 AM
Yes. And I wish I didn't.
10/28/2009 4:40 AM
I retired in 2004, since then my wife has been begging me to take her on a cruise. WOW, that is on the top of my list; 17 deployments (<5months) on 5 SSN's 4 ships. Once underway, I can just imagine waking up in the middle of the night scrambling to dress because I am late for the mid-watch, walking around inspecting how the field day went or looking for rust topside (that's the Ship's Bos'n in me coming out). Damn, I guess now that I write about it, a cruise does sound fun. Anyway, as soon as their is a NAVADMIN announcing that they are manning up an "OLD GUY" SSN, I'll be there fighting my way to the front of the line. Long and black and don't come back, still sounds good!
10/28/2009 4:40 AM
I dream of Montana and my Rabbit farm.
10/28/2009 5:36 AM
I had a dream once that we were getting underway on the IX-516, which is (was) the big-azz barge where all the classrooms were at NPTU Charleston, back in the early 90's. My biggest concern was that the piss-poor watertight integrity of the double doors and that once we submerged, we'd all be screwed.
I still remember the first boat dream I had. I was short on my first boat and was sleeping in a bottom rack on my duty day. I dreamed that I was underneath the deckplates in the bow (next to the rack I was in) and that people were replacing the deckplates and screwing them down on top of me. I started freaking out in my dream and was banging my fists on the deckplates for them to let me out. I woke up in a cold sweat with hands that hurt.
10/28/2009 5:57 AM
Oh and PS....any little thing can make me have a boat dream today, 18 years after EAOS. Watching a submarine movie, calling or emailing a friend from back then...and then WHAM that night I'm back in maneuvering making turns for 10 knots all watch long.
10/28/2009 6:06 AM
From the time I was on my 1st boat until a few years after I retired, all I ever dreamed about was the boat. I never dreamed of my wife or kids. It was very disturbing.
Frequently my dreams were about my dad returning to active duty, and the COB would tell me to help my dad get back up to speed (he was a NAV ET on the 599 in the early 60's). I would be thinking "what in the HELL am I going to teach my dad about submarining?".
Almost 10 years off the boat, and I still occasionally have boat dreams.
10/28/2009 6:19 AM
Damn, I guess now that I write about it, a cruise does sound fun
I took a cruise immediately following my final deployment in '07. Knew exactly where we were the whole time but didn't care a damn! There's a lot to be said for leaving the driving to others and being spoiled rotten for a week!
As far as boat dreams go, I have two recurring ones every once in a while: First is the time some asshat dumped a dye marker in San 1 while on station (No lie, that really happened), second is when I (as DOOW) sunk out while snorkeling and shooting trash. Bad watch.
10/28/2009 6:25 AM
I have boat dreams too, but the worst dreams for this RM1 are crypto dreams. I remember one dream where I was actually at my dad's house in Kentucky and found crypto material. I hate finding crypto material in the wrong places.
But I will also ask that you all consider this; our dreams are persistent reminders of our experiences. Whenever it happens to me, I consider those who have experienced the true horrors of war. I've known Vietnam vets who say their dreams never stop. Lots of our newer vets are going to have the same. Crypto is no comparison to their experiences, but it reminds me that they need support and understanding.
Rackburn
10/28/2009 7:14 AM
Ok, I feel better after seeing some of these comments. I thought it was strange that I still had Navy related dreams after being out for 13 years.
I have two recurring themes in my Navy dreams. The first is that I rejoined the Navy at my previous rank (O-3), but have to go through OCS again, even though I am senior to almost everyone there. More often than not, the surroundings are not the OCS I attended in Newport, but a mix of NPS Orlando and SUBASE New London.
The other is that I am back on a boat (usually my first), in present day, trying to remember how to do things after being away for over a decade. The most common variation of this one is that I have forgotten or lost some part of my uniform (often my cover), and I can't buy anything in the uniform shop because I am no longer in the Navy.
Not coincidentally, the frequency of these dreams increased significantly after I started reading this blog last year.
10/28/2009 8:17 AM
I have been retired for over twenty years and am over twenty five years away from any sea duty but I still have submarine or sea related dreams about three times a month. Some times they start at USNA and other times right into the boats. What really surprises me is when I dream that I am on a skimmer for some reason (Only spent time on those during Middie cruises). Like other commenters, the dreams are about unusual or impossible situations that I generally am not able to solve before waking up. I guess we never give up going to sea. Thanks for the stories. I am relieved that I am not alone.
10/28/2009 9:31 AM
Wow, this reminded me of the dream I would have every once and a while where I would be missing some part of my uniform. Didn't matter - somehow I was missing part of it, back on base- usually some morph of Charleston circa 1989, and I'm scrambling because I've JUST gotten back into service for some reason, and immediately I'm out of uniform about to be caught. Lol.
10/28/2009 10:09 AM
Ten years since I left the boat and I keep getting funky boat dreams a few times a month at least.
10/28/2009 12:06 PM
I have been out almost 20 years now and still ahve boat / Navy dreams.
the recent one i have re-enlsited and I go abck to my ship but i can find my bunk. Of course the ship layout is totally different.
I have also had dreams i am back infront of the RPCP. then power starts to rise nad i cant stop it and i hope the reactor does not scram on me.
10/28/2009 12:27 PM
Dreams? I was an Airdale, but it happens to me, and my ship, ESSEX, was cut up in the 70s.
It has helped to wander sister ship HORNET every now and again to get the smells back into the lungs.
The sight and sound of bluewater streaming under the sponsons as we turn into the wind.
10/28/2009 12:30 PM
I got out in 2006 and now I'm a contractor which has me going out for sea trials relatively often.
I don't have a lot of boat-dreams, but one recent one just before a sea-trials run out of PNSY stands out. We were underway and putting the boat through its paces when it wouldn't recover from a roll. 20, 25, 30--on and on until we were completely inverted and going down.
Yeah, dumb, I know. I'd be lying if I didn't admit it shook me up a bit though.
10/28/2009 12:47 PM
I was unceremoniously kicked off the boat (the 604) in the Philippines way back in 1977 and was told to find my way back to San Diego to be discharged any way I could. I did just that. Ain't had no dreams of any kind about the boat or the Navy.
Heck, does anyone have a spare dream or two? I would prefer buxom babes in bikinis, in full color of course.
10/28/2009 1:14 PM
{The other is that I am back on a boat (usually my first), in present day, trying to remember how to do things after being away for over a decade. The most common variation of this one is that I have forgotten or lost some part of my uniform (often my cover), and I can't buy anything in the uniform shop because I am no longer in the Navy.}
I have the exact same dream, all the way down to losing my cover. Damn.
10/28/2009 6:42 PM
Sounds like the majority of dreams are about either having to solve impossible problems, or of getting caught after doing something wrong but necessary. Says lots about the things that haunt us after service.
For the right price, you can probably have an experience that will put the buxom babes in your dreams, but it's way cheaper to buy a magazine and then just have them in your daydreams.
10/28/2009 7:46 PM
I am standing ERF on a 688. I try to yell at a buddy standing ERLL through the hatch. I see him face down on the deck plate. A loud roar begins, and I look down to see that I am ankle deep in water. Then I wake up.
10/28/2009 7:51 PM
I also have the odd dream once or twice a month. It usually is about being at the RPCP and reacting to a SCRAM or some other casualty, calling out my actions to the EOOW. It ends with my wife waking me up asking what the hell I'm talking about and why am I thrashing around trying to turn switches that aren't there.
I guess the really creepy thing is when she repeats back to me what I was saying, and it's an almost verbatim from the CP's of my old boat!
10/29/2009 4:01 AM
Okay, I am a sicko; I routinely dream of chasing Sailors and Officers down the pier and telling them to square away their uniforms. Damn being a COB and CMC rocked! On a side note: I am now a civilian contractor who has to bit his lip every time I see a Sailor who is all jacked up or that renders a half salute to someone who rates it. What's worse, is that individual doesn;t stop to fix that Sailor.. What's happened???
10/29/2009 4:55 AM
I have a boat dream from time to time. I think they happened more while I was in though. The worst was when I'd get off watch, go to my rack and dream that I was standing another full 6 hour watch in the box.
To the anonymous poster that talked about the boat flipping upside down and going down, I had a similar dream when I was a NUB. I was sleeping in the torpedo room in heavy seas, and the boat was rolling pretty good. I started dreaming that I was on the boat, rolling back and forth, but the rolls became bigger and more extreme until we rolled over completely and finished the barrel roll right side up. Obviously, I didn't have my checkout on ballast tanks done at the time. ;-)
10/29/2009 6:24 AM
Fred said:
I routinely dream of chasing Sailors and Officers down the pier and telling them to square away their uniforms. Damn being a COB and CMC rocked!
Rolls eyes, shakes head....
10/29/2009 6:42 AM
I don't have as frequent of boat dreams as others, but they happen maybe 1 or 2 a year.
It is somewhat disconcerting when I (the former ELT) start thinking about the right 10 degree rudder during a flank bell, then wake up. I suppose its like falling off a building/bridge in others dreams....
10/29/2009 7:16 AM
I dream of having Mike Mulligan as my CO, Ugh whew,(sweat pouring down) then I wake up and thank my lucky stars it was a dream.
10/29/2009 7:42 AM
{Okay, I am a sicko; I routinely dream of chasing Sailors and Officers down the pier and telling them to square away their uniforms.}
Ah! you are the reason we are all dreaming about losing our covers. I see now.
Next time you're on the pier, thinking about chewing some poor kid out for not saluting in a way that arouses you properly, why don't you try doing something else to make the pain go away? I hear that cutting yourself can be helpful - why not try that?
This is what comes of not getting enough hugs when you're a kid, evidently.
10/29/2009 9:39 AM
My last dream about the sub force went like this...it was only weeks ago
I was leaving the submarine and I was on the pier. I was in current time but I couldn’t see the submarine...I knew I was leaving the most technologically advance vessel on the face of the planet. I don’t know if I was part of the crew or not...was I a observer or a higher level participant? I am kind of just thinking as I was walking down the pier....that was the dream. I was baffled about what I was doing on the sub. I was with them for a prolong period of time and all of the officers, especially the CO and XO and other senior officers involved me in all of the ship's activities. I just was buddies with all the top guys, even with the senior officers off ship...everyone respectfully got me involved with everything on ship, nothing was hidden from me.
I am thinking as I walk down the pier, what a astonishing opportunity, everyone is treating very well and the high officers are my friends. It is a astonishing change in circumstance in my life...I was astonished with what I just went through, I was going back to the sub too. I was so astonish with this turn of circumstance of my life, I felt I was in a movie. You know couldn’t imagine you’d be in this circumstance 6 months prior. I was very happy and excited and stimulated with what I was doing.
It was like somebody invited me on the sub or requested that I ride the sub...it was my job to be on that new sub. The problem was as I was pondering walking down the pier...nobody told me what my job was. It was up to me to figure out what my job was...I had the feeling it was all up to me to figure out what I was doing on this ship. I was free to make what I wanted of my new job. I couldn’t figure out walking down the pier what I wanted do with my position...why they put me on this sub.
That is the general theme with a lot of my dreams...and it has nothing to do with the Navy.
twice a year I dream about a sub maybe?
10/29/2009 9:53 AM
No, I just tried to uphold the established standards. Something that appears to be lacking and becoming increasing worse. I remember as a junior Sailor getting jerked up by the collar because I wasn't squared away (standards). Learned my lesson, from that point forwad, I remained squared away. As far as not getting hugs, nothing to do with anything. Walk down any pier today, and you'll see what I am talking about. Hey, if you are proud of some Sailor who renders a limp writed, half assed salute, sorry. If you think it's ok for some Sailor to walk down the pier, w/sleeves rolled up, shirt filthy and untucked, sorry. By your comments, you must have been one of those individuals who required upgrading. I now work ith Sailors and Marines. Without a doubt, you can tell who knows and follows the ESTABLISHED standards!
10/29/2009 11:43 AM
Still have boat dreams 32 years after retiring. don't recall any about the one nuc boat I was on even though I spent a quarter of my navy career on her. Mine seem to revolve around returning to active duty and going to smoke boat, perhaps the result of working as a part time deckhand on the museum submarine USS Pampanito SS-383 a few years ago. No dreams about MSC ammo ships yet. Maybe that'll show up in a year or two. Funny, no dreams about going on liberty, whats up with that??? That was always more fun than being at sea.
Keep a zero bubble...........
DBFTMC(SS)USNRET
10/29/2009 12:06 PM
Fred said:
If you think it's ok for some Sailor to walk down the pier, w/sleeves rolled up, shirt filthy and untucked, sorry. By your comments, you must have been one of those individuals who required upgrading.
Here I am rolling my eyes again. Sleeves rolled up? Seriously? Filthy shirt? Maybe he just got done diving a bilge or cleaning an MG set, you officious pinhead. Get a grip.
10/29/2009 12:23 PM
"I dream of having Mike Mulligan as my CO,..."
As your CO was I drunk or sober?
10/29/2009 4:25 PM
Every month or two, though sometimes I dream about the tender instead of a boat....
10/30/2009 9:11 AM
Sorry 12:23 anonymous that you have a hard time with standards. Yoiu must not have ever been in a position where you had to uphold the standards that were taught in Boot Camp. I will never apologize for doing what being a Senior Enlisted and a Commissioned Officer is mandated to do. So if you had anyone under your supervision, I'm sure that your Chief or Divo was the one who had to be the "bad guy" because you do not feel it is necessary to be squared away.
10/30/2009 11:11 AM
Fred, go look up "officious" in the dictionary. Upholding standards, my ass. You're just being a prick.
10/30/2009 5:02 PM
I still have this one from time to time.
Heavy seas off the coast of Washington on the Florida. Captain tells us that if we take a 90 degree roll, we are headed to the beach. It happens.
We head all ahead full to the beach, run ourselves aground, pop the hatch and jump down to the sand. The dream ends there. *shrug* Who knows what it means.
---
MM1/SS
10/30/2009 8:37 PM
{By your comments, you must have been one of those individuals who required upgrading. }
Yes, anyone who disagrees with you is a slacker. Sigh. I find that if you lead from the front in terms of things like salutes and uniforms, or perhaps give some positive encouragement, it works a lot better than yelling or physically assaulting people. In bootcamp, sure, yell away. But when you are dealing with highly disciplined, highly trained folks, there are other approaches and other issues.
A truly inspirational leader can lead by example - his people will want to emulate him, down to salutes and squared away uniforms. Sometimes you may need to raise your voice, but you shouldn't enjoy it - that represents a failure, not a success.
10/30/2009 10:01 PM
Ah, yeah...all too often with the dream thing. Mine are similar to the funky uniform ones mentioned earlier (wrong kind of belt, cover missing or messed up, wrong shoes...etc.).
For me, the location is always within 20 feet or so of the area behind maneuvering and near the aft escape trunk on a 688.
Which perhaps is related to the funniest thing that ever happened to me on the boats. Maybe you had to be there, but here it is:
EDO days in EB shipyard doing the newcon thing. The ladder right beneath the aft escape trunk to the next level was fouled worse than I'd ever seen before. One person could crawl through cleanly but nearly horizontally, but no way for two people at once.
Had to get up-ladder with a female EB worker (cleaner or painter) trying to do something in the middle. Lying down at ladder-angle, he stayed put and rolled to one side with her back against one side while I passed by on the other, sort of crawling/hopping while facing her, just a very few inches away.
Think missionary position on a ladder, and that pretty much sums things up.
At which point, it occurred to me to say in my best almost-serious way: "Don't move...or we're both going to jail!"
Brought down the house. There wa about a half-dozen other EB folk right nearby, and everyone just burst out in laughter, including the charmingly embarrassed EB lady. I couldn't stop chuckling myself for a long time after.
11/01/2009 7:43 AM
(and, yes...my keyboard 's' key sticks sometimes)
11/01/2009 7:45 AM
Once a month or so...
Newly qualified RT, boat just out of SRA on sea trials. Stern planes jammed rise just a smidge above test depth. Standing on the electrical panels in ER ML looking up at the RPFW plant as I shifted em to fast to support the flank bell the ood ordered and then spending the next 24 hrs going home on the surface collectively testing every piece of gear on the ship. No one ever quantified the up angle, but the bubble was buried so > 60, broke the surface at 28 kts, 2200lbs of air left in the banks.
11/02/2009 2:31 PM
Last deployment was Desert Storm and I still have dreams several times a month. Usually I am back on the boat or in the National Guard wondering what the hell I am doing there.
As for this guy 'I routinely dream of chasing Sailors and Officers down the pier and telling them to square away their uniforms. Damn being a COB and CMC rocked!'
You are seriously disturbed and tools like you are one of the main reasons I got out. Thanks for doing your part to reduce retention rates. No I wasn't a dirtbag, exactly the opposite in fact. I was quite literally a model sailor, SOQ, SOY, 4.0, etc. I have happily found the civilian world to be much more rewarding of talent and less of BS. Since this is a family blog I won't make any obvious assumptions regarding your height and/or the size of certain body parts or lack thereof.
11/04/2009 12:43 PM
Your dream is kinda wierd. Have anyone of you experience dreaming like you were running so fast?
1/09/2010 10:19 AM
10 years since i have remaining the actual vessel as well as We maintain obtaining cool vessel goals several times per month a minimum of.
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