little older than you, similar experience. I recall thinking when I got my first real job in 1982 - just give me 3 good years of economic growth, just 3 years.
More like 30 - we were so blessed and lucky
It was a good time to be alive. I had a great military career, too. Was only mobilized once for Operation Desert Storm - but thanks to, ‘Stormin’ Norman’ and Superior Firepower, I stayed stateside. It was over before it started, though I was still on AD for 2 years.
Captains and Senior NCOs left in DROVES during the Clinton years. Made room for me to move up! (SFC, E-7 and had my Certification to become a Warrant Officer had a job opened up that I wanted.)
But then I got married and had kids. You CAN have it all - just not all at once. ;)