Cummings and Goings

When we dropped the boys off at school today and drove past the shipyards, I realized something…

I have done a terrible job explaining why we are actually living in Korea for 18 months.

And no, it’s not because of our love of Korean skincare.
Or Korean BBQ.
Or because we are conveniently close to Japan and I have a slight desire to go vintage purse shopping. 😂

Although…those are definitely perks.

We actually live on Geoje Island, and there are TWO massive shipyards on the island — essentially one on each side. We’re on the Hanwha side, in Okpo.

And this is where our actual reason for moving halfway around the world comes in.

When companies like Chevron build offshore platforms or modules, they’re often fabricated at massive shipyards like the one right here in Okpo. Once a platform or module is completely built, it gets loaded onto a ship and transported to its final location somewhere in the world.

Lee’s last project was built at a fabrication yard in Ingleside, Texas. The module eventually went about 200 miles off the Louisiana coast into the Gulf of Mexico.

His current project?

It’s being built right here in Okpo, South Korea.

And in about 18 months, it will be loaded onto a ship and transported offshore to Israel, where it will become part of the infrastructure supplying a significant portion of Israel’s natural gas needs, as well as gas to Egypt.

Which is kind of a big deal.

And honestly, seeing this process in person has given me an entirely new appreciation for what Lee actually does.

Offshore platforms are MASSIVE. The engineering, logistics, construction and eventual offshore commissioning that go into building them are absolutely insane. I’m constantly amazed by the work Lee does and the number of people and communities ultimately impacted by these projects.

So yes…we are an Oil & Gas family.

Lee has been with Chevron for 20 years. I just hit 15.

That career has taken Lee all over the world for different projects. It gave me the opportunity to visit Canada, California and West Texas, and now our boys get to experience a little bit of that world too.

Growing up in tiny town in Indiana, I never imagined I’d move away from Indiana. Honestly, the biggest city I thought I’d ever live in was Indianapolis.

Then somehow we ended up in Houston.

And now…

South Korea. 🇰🇷

Life clearly had other plans.

And this adventure has been pretty incredible.

The boys are fully invested in the Oil & Gas lifestyle at this point. Just ask them their opinions on Teslas. 😂

So today, as we drove past the shipyards, I thought I’d share a little glimpse into the reason we’re actually here.

These shipyards are MASSIVE. Ships and offshore modules are being built here for companies all over the world.

And now, somehow, we get to experience that process firsthand.

Not exactly the reason I thought I’d be living in Korea…

…but definitely one heck of a chapter in the Cummings & Goings story.

And yes, I’ll still be going vintage purse shopping in Japan. Priorities.