As a teenager, he was able to travel the world
Greg Haney is out for a walk with his dog, Boo.
“I quit school when I was 16. I didn’t loaf or get into any trouble. I joined the Merchant Marines, and I would catch every ship I could and go just as far as I could go. I wanted to see the world, and I knew the opportunity wasn’t going to be available forever.
“I did it for two years, and it was a big adventure. I’ve been all over the world, just about everywhere. I accomplished everything I set out to accomplish.
“I was around older people, and I was acting older than I was. I was usually the youngest person on ship, but I had what was considered a level head back then.
“All the seamen told me not to make this a career like they had. They said it was a lonely life, although some of those old-timers had wives and families in almost every major port.
“The good part was that wherever they went, they could feel at home. The bad part was when they returned to their real home, some other guy might come to the door and tell him that he doesn’t live there anymore. His wife’s there and says, ‘Yeah, you don’t live here anymore. I’ve got the paperwork. We’re getting a divorce.”
— Greg Haney
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