Holiday and graduation gifts for a portable lifestyle?

[Arwen]

My family is contacting me about what to get Chris for the holidays, and as a boot camp graduation gift later.

Having been in the Navy I know how small and portable everything needs to be. I traveled with two sea bags, one with my official stuff (uniforms, etc, whatever was issued in boot camp) and one containing personal gear, from civilian clothes to a personal blanket and books.

My son intends to use his first few paychecks out of boot camp to buy a new laptop and iPod, which leaves just about everything else for us to choose from.

So, what do you get for the soon-to-be sailor who will have so little space for storage?

Here's the ideas I have so far:
*White gold Navy ring to commemorate graduation (one ring on each hand is allowed while in uniform)
*Pay for a quality tattoo at a reputable/safe tattoo parlor - after boot camp.
*Electronic book system such as the Kindle - he can buy a couple dozen "books" before heading to sea and not have to worry about real books taking up space.
*New cell phone

Okay, the tattoo is a family thing - we're into that stuff. We're very familiar with Navy tattoo regs and careful to keep it within the rules. I designed a tattoo for Chris to commemorate his entry into the Navy - the USS Constitution sailing through a Scottish Clan Badge strap (to recognize our Scottish heritage) with the words "Honor, Courage, Commitment" on the "strap" and an anchor-shaped strap-end. He already has an "armband" of two dragons eating a Celtic knot, which I also designed.

So, any ideas we can send to family members would be appreciated.

[Anti M]

I had to look the Liberty up... that makes my blood boil.

My husband has pictures of the boat people the CO of the Dubuque refused to pick up and later resorted to cannibalism. Hubby says the XO and the crew were on the edge of mutiny over that.

[Brandonswife]

I help out with a charity that sends care packages to soldiers, and the number one requested item is socks. I have from them that foxsocks are the absolute best. They can be purchased at www.foxsocks.com. A digital photo album with an SD card is also a nice way to remind him of home. A digital camera is alo a nice way to let him share his expiriences of travel with you and your famil, sometimes the camera on your phone just doesn't do justice.

You could also have his iPod engraved. It may help protect it from sticly fingers.

[RivRon Mom]

I got my son one of those watches that tells them not only the time but is also a compass, altimeter, Temp and some other fancy stuff. He LOVED it and it came in very very handy during his special unit training. I would always vote for something useful and practical over sentimental because, literally, they have next to NO room for things - and don't want to ruin anything that's nice during a deployment (camera, cell phone (which they can't use overseas), computer etc. - so they don't take them.