Thanks Randy...
So you sailed in a Sturgeon and Los Angeles class fast attack sub. Fantastic! Glad to hear that you enjoyed sub duty. I teach military history in college, which includes some discussion of U. S. Naval history. I also build 1/350 scale ship models when I have the time; and one I recently finished is the U. S. S. Los Angeles.
As for your thoughts on a str8 razor...You are taking the same road I did. Bought a DE last fall and used it until this December, then got bitten by the str8 razor bug. I guess it was visiting all those wet shaving websites to purchase shave creams and blades for my DE. I still use my DE during the weekday, but IME there is nothing quite as relaxing as the ritual of a str8 razor shave on the weekend.
The fellows at Straight Razor Place will be able to offer you a lot of good advice on purchasing a str8 razor. The wiki at SRP also has a ton of useful information.
The Vintage Blades LLC website also has some useful information and an inventory of really nice razors. I think it is located in MD. The owner, Jim Ayres, gave me some useful advice when I was thinking about buying my first str8 razor--a Dovo Black Star. Straight Razor Designs is also a good website to check out when you decide to take the plunge. I warn you, though, str8 razor shaving is like Lay's Potato Chips...Nobody can shave with just one. (LOL)
Let me and the rest of the gang at SRP know how your DE and str8 razor shaving go. Maybe you can post a pic of your DE shaving ensemble in the DE forum.
Happy New Year to you as well....