Hi Rick,
to IIS!
There's nothing better than scanning the milky way with a good pair of Bino's.
The 8" dob is a great starting scope, but as Brian said, it would be a good idea to get out to a local club and look through a few scopes first. You'll get lots of knowledge and make some new friends in the meantime.
Keep asking questions here on IceInSpace and share your experiences with us!