Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

PCSing

4 Tips For Your Next Short-Term Move

by

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of CORT for IZEA Worldwide. All opinions are 100% mine.

4 Tips For Your Next Short-Term Move


Short-term moves can happen in military life. Not every military family stays put for three to four years. Maybe there is a special school that your service member needs to go to; maybe it just makes more sense to move home for the time he will be deployed, whatever the reason, a short-term move can come with its only complications.


Here are four tips to help you through a short-term move:

It’s okay to unpack

Living out of suitcases stops being fun after about a week. If you can, unpack in your temporary home. Make the place your own, as much as you can. Decorate the walls, put up a few photos, add those personal touches. No, you can’t do all the things you would want to do if you were going to live there for a few years, but you can still make the place a beautiful place to live, even for a few short months.

Use CORT For Furniture Rental

While there are some things you will want in your home, it can be much easier to rent furniture on a temporary basis, put your regular items in storage, and enjoy what works for your temporary home. It is one thing to buy a new couch to fit a home you will be in for three years and another when you will only be there for a few months.

Here is a little bit more about what CORT Furniture Rental can do for you:

  • CORT can offer you furniture rentals piece by piece or even at a room at a time.

  • CORT has 156 showrooms across the United States.

  • With CORT you can get your furniture in as little as 48 business hours.

  • CORT also offers housewares packages for your kitchen, bathroom, and the bedroom.

  • CORT makes moving more manageable, especially if you need furniture during a short-term move. ​

You can still make friends

It can be tempting not to want to put yourself out there when you know you will be moving again soon but don’t be afraid to make friends. Even if you are only able to be friends in person for a few months, you can carry on your friendship online and through phone calls for the rest of your lives. And you never know when you might end up at the same duty station again.

Make a bucket list

Make a bucket list of all the things you want to do during your time at your short-term location. This way, you won’t be moving away without seeing what you wanted to see. If you need ideas, you can always check out a tour book, talk to people who live there or read about the area online.


Please visit CORT Furniture Rental for more information and to help plan your next move.

Moving is never easy and can be a bit overwhelming when you know you are going to be someplace for a limited amount of time. These tips for a short-term move should help you the next time you have to do so.

Visit Sponsors Site

How To Go About House Hunting From Afar

by

Excited to have this guest post from Millie! Please visit my Duty Station Guest Posts page for more information on guest posting 🙂

How To Go About House Hunting From Afar

How To Go About House Hunting From Afar

“We have orders to WHERE???”

By Kellie Artis, gomillie.com

Once the orders drop, there are a few decisions that need to be made: will we live on base or off? And if we decide to live off base, will we rent or will we buy? Each of these decision points come with several considerations, but let’s just say that you decide to rent or buy a home in the community. Great! Now, where do you start?

Sometimes the stars align so that you can actually take a trip out to “recon” an area before your move. Often, this is a luxury considering all of the things that must fall into place to allow for such a trip: childcare, time off work for the spouse, leave for the service member, and non-reimbursable travel expenses. More often than not, you’ll be house hunting from afar.

Research

The absolute first place online you should visit is www.gomillie.com. MILLIE is a one-stop-shop for researching your next duty station, understanding the surrounding areas, and getting the inside scoop from a military family perspective. All of the information comes directly from hundreds of military spouses stationed at each of the 70+ installations featured on the site. Just go to the Find a Base page and search for your upcoming duty station! You’ll get the dish on area schools, the local housing market, attractions, pros and cons, even unit-specific maps and commute charts.

Grab a coffee and settle in to learn some of the most pertinent information about your new home and where to start on your virtual house hunt! From here you should have a pretty decent idea of where you’re going to want to start your home search. You will be a dream client for any real estate agent, and you’ll save tons of time by doing your research up front.

House Hunting

Finding an Agent

If you are considering buying a home, you’ll want to find an agent that understands your unique situation as a military family, and won’t be afraid of geographic restrictions (ie. potentially not being able to physically tour a home!). They also need to understand that military families buy with the future in mind. Unless this is your last stop, this purchase won’t be a forever home, but likely be a rental property after a couple of years. You’ll also want an agent that is knowledgeable of the VA loan benefit. We’ve heard over and over again of agents that have tried to talk military buyers out of using their benefit, likely because they have bought into some of the myths surrounding it, or aren’t familiar enough with it. A great agent will also be willing to do virtual tours (sometimes with really snazzy VR tech), and work around crazy time constraints.

Recommendations from friends is a good place to start when choosing who you’ll trust with this massive transaction. But if you don’t have a network where you’re headed, you can be expertly paired with a real estate agent who meets all of the above criteria, AND has also actually personally experienced a PCS. MILLIE’s AgentHero Network is made up exclusively of military spouse and veteran real estate agents who have served – just like you! They’re top agents who are also uniquely attuned to the needs of military clients because they’ve been in your shoes. You can connect with one of over 600 AgentHeroes within an hour directly from the MILLIE site.

House Hunting

Finding a Rental

Sometimes buying a home doesn’t make sense, so you’re on the hunt for a rental. By now you’ve done your research and have an idea of what area to focus on in your search. Next head over to MilitaryByOwner.com to start compiling actual listings to consider.

With each listing, remember that you can’t smell photos (cat pee or cigarette odor, anyone?) and they may have failed to mention the neighboring cellular tower in the listing. Sometimes homeowners or management companies will offer to give you a virtual tour, but keep in mind that there is an incentive for them to gloss over or completely omit the quirks and/or defaults of a home. Asking local friends to help out with “recon” is always an option, but if you don’t have a network where you’re headed or don’t want to lean on your friends in that way, you can turn to a MILLIE Scout. Scouts are military spouses who can be your boots-on-the ground when you can’t be there. You can hire a Scout to conduct a Facetime tour with you, provide neighborhood reviews, and more! This way you have an objective fact-finder that you can trust from afar to help provide decision support, and feel better about the dreaded “sight-unseen” situation we’re often faced with.

House hunting from far away can be stressful, but with the right tools you can make decisions efficiently and from an informed point of view.

—

MILLIE is an online community and digital marketplace that connects members of the military and their families with specialized knowledge and trusted resource providers to remove the stress and anxiety of PCS’ing. Check out MILLIE’s Installation and Neighborhood Guides, our network of Veteran and military spouse Realtors, and Scout, our on-demand task service composed of military spouses.

www.gomillie.com | MILLIE Journal | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest| Twitter

PCSing This Summer? These Relocation Tips Will Help!

by

Happy to have a guest post from Charlene Wilde about dealing with relocation! If you would like to guest post on Soldier’s Wife, Crazy Life, please visit my Duty Station Guest Post page or make sure to send me an email for more details!

PCSing This Summer? These Relocation Tips Will Help!

Dealing with relocation this summer? These tips can help.

As many military spouses know, the summer doesn’t just mean that kids are out of school and beaches are open for business. At this time of year permanent changes of station become more frequent and dealing with the challenges that come with relocation is a reality for many military spouses and their families.

With so much on your plate as a military spouse, the last thing you want to worry about is adjusting after a move. As someone who has moved every two years for the past 15 years (with and without children!), here are some tips and best practices to make the transition smoother.

Effectively manage your budget:

Relocation provides the perfect opportunity to assess, and possibly reset, your financial posture. At the core of this is updating your budget. If you have experienced a PCS in the past, learn from what has and hasn’t worked in managing your finances. For example, if you’re moving to a base abroad you will most likely need to purchase a car when you get there. If you move to a city with readily available and reliable public transportation, it might be time to part ways with your car and pocket some additional cash for savings.

In terms of preparing for the move financially, you may be eligible for military advance pay as support. If you use this option, the military service member would be paid an advance of basic pay not exceeding three months to cover non-reimbursable moving expenses. It’s important to remember that this is a loan that you will have to pay back and not simply free money.

Next, consider how much of your budget needs to be allotted to housing in your new city. While you will get a basic housing allowance, be sure to do your own research and determine the cost of living in the area and understand the market. Will you want to rent, or would it be more financially advantageous to buy? This is just one of the important questions you and your spouse need to discuss.

You may also not have the luxury of being able to view a new home or apartment in person. If that is the case, be sure to find a local realtor with knowledge of the military community. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people out there who may not have your best interest in mind or who lack an understanding of the needs of a military family. Use trusted, military-spouse-focused social media pages (like this one) and resources in the area to get advice from those who have gone through the process.

Tap into the military spouse community:

Remember, you are never alone in this journey! As briefly mentioned above, it is extremely important to use the contacts and resources around you to help aid in this transition. While it may seem overwhelming to meet new people, the military spouse community is extremely supportive. Be proactive and consider joining the various spouse groups on base as a way to introduce yourself in-person to a new community and meet like-minded individuals. For example, Family Readiness Groups are command-sponsored groups that allow you to learn more about the new unit and area.

We live in a world that seems to get more digital by the day, so don’t discount the value of making connections online. Spouse groups on Facebook or elsewhere can be great sources of support and vital information to help with your move. Especially as we approach the summer months when many families PCS, there will be a lot of newcomers who may share the same concerns as you.

Keep the lines of communication open:

Whether it is just you and your spouse, or you’re juggling moving the whole family cross- country, it is essential to communicate openly and honestly with the whole family about the changes that are going to take open place. While talking finances may not be the most glamorous topic, there are also other things to consider when you PCS.

If you have children, make sure to talk about the process early and often. This transition can be tough on the entire family, especially as your children switch schools and have to make new friends. Involve them at an age-appropriate level in planning your move. Sit down as a family and highlight what there is to do and see in your new home in order to build excitement. Plan your budget accordingly so that you can enjoy small trips and entertainment once you are settled in order to learn about your new home.

Preparation can make the stress of a tough move much easier on both you and your military spouse. If you stay organized and open to the support and resources provided, you can tackle a permanent change of station this summer with ease.

Charlene Wilde is a veteran and military spouse. She is the Assistant Secretary of AAFMAA, our nation’s longest standing military financial services non-profit and a contributor to Spouselink, a site that informs and connects Military Spouses.

The Pros and Cons of Living On Post at Fort Campbell

by

The Pros and Cons of Living on Post at Fort Campbell

Did you just find out you are going to be stationed at Fort Campbell? If so, the decision to live on post at Fort Campbell can be a difficult one to make. We went back and forth on living there ourselves when my husband was still active duty. In the end, we decided to buy a house in Clarksville and have been there ever since.

The Pros and Cons of Living On Post at Fort Campbell

I have had many friends who have lived on post at Fort Campbell and have loved it, I have had other friends who moved off because they didn’t. I decided to ask my Facebook group what they thought about living on post at Fort Campbell to come up with this list of pros and cons.

Stationed at Fort Campbell

Pros of living on post at Fort Campbell

  • Schools– Schools on post can be good and are easy to take your children too. While there are a lot of good schools off post in the area, there are some not so good ones too. Most housing areas at Fort Campbell have a school close by and easy to get to.
  • Community– If you are looking for community, you will definitely find that on post at Fort Campbell. There is always something going on and activities and events to get involved in. From kids sports to MOPS to playdates for your kids.
  • Starbucks– Fort Campbell is home to two Starbucks that just happen to be at parks with a splash pad. This is fantastic for the summer. Bring your kids to play and relax with your favorite drink. While you are welcome to these places even if you live off post, living on gives you better access and might just be a short walk from your doorstep.
  • Save on electricity– Living on post at Fort Campbell should save you money on electricity. Living off post can cost you $200-300 a month. While this isn’t always the case, it is something people complain about on local pages and something you can avoid by living on post.
  • Everything is close– The nice thing about Fort Campbell is that all you need is relatively close together. Most of the neighborhoods are not too far from the hospital, the Commissary, the PX, the Chapels, and being on post means you are close to your spouse’s workplace. You can get to any of those places without having to wait in line to get on post or through the traffic of Clarksville and Oak Grove which can be terrible at times.
  • Playgrounds– If you have small children, on post at Fort Campbell can be the ideal place to live. There are playgrounds everywhere. No matter where you have your home on post, you should be able to walk to at least one, if not two playgrounds or more. There are also two splash parks that are open during the summer.
  • Pre-K– Getting into free Pre-K off post can be a challenge. Doing it on post is a lot easier if that is important to you.
  • Fenced yards– There are a lot of fenced yards on post. Off, it really just depends. If you have a dog or children, a fenced yard is probably going to be important to you.

on post at Fort Campbell

Cons of living on post at Fort Campbell

  • Break-ins/Vandalism– Sadly, break-ins and vandalism happen on post just like they happen off. Some spouses do not want to live on post for this reason. They feel that they are more likely to have something stolen if they live there. Just being on post doesn’t mean you are completely safe from these things.
  • There are nice and safe housing options off post-In the Fort Campbell area, you have a lot of options for where to live. There are plenty of off post options to find a nice home in a safe neighborhood. A lot of these neighborhoods are closer to restaurants, stories and places you will probably want to go quite often. If you are worried about not being able to find a home in the area, spend some time looking to see what is in your price range.
  • Farther commute for spouses that work in Clarksville and Nashville– For military spouses that work in Clarksville or Nashville, living off post might be a better option. There are quite a few off post neighborhoods that are closer to the Interstate making it much easier for the spouse to get to work.
  • Can’t leave work behind– A lot of military families like to live off post so they can leave work behind when they are not at work. Clarksville makes this easy to do since things are more spaced out. You can live 15-20 minutes from post or even further and have a more off post experience. Living on post you will be right in the middle of everything, and some people do not want that.
  • Pocket BAH off post– Some families can pocket BAH by living off post. If you receive $1000 a month for BAH and your rent is only $650, that is some extra money in your pocket every month. This doesn’t work for everyone as families who are looking for a bigger home will have to pay more, and that could end up being over the BAH amount.
  • Housing can be difficult to deal with– Quite a few spouses mentioned that dealing with on-post housing was a big headache. That the people they talked with were rude and they had trouble getting things done. While you can still encounter this with a rental agency, dealing with housing can be a big con for some people.

On post at Fort Campbell

As you can see, there is a lot to think about when you are trying to decide to live on post at Fort Campbell. What works for one family might not work for another. There are definitely pros and cons to either choice.

If you are trying to decide what you want to do, take some time to check out the local area. If you can’t visit ahead of time, try to find photos and listings online. You can always start on post and move off or the other way around if things change.

What about you? Have you ever lived at Fort Campbell? Where did you live when you did?

What You Need to Know About Being Stationed at Fort Leonard Wood

by

What You Need to Know About Being Stationed at Fort Leonard Wood

Happy to have this guest post by Sierra on being stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Please visit myDuty station guest postpage for blog posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed.

What You Need to Know About Being Stationed at Fort Leonard Wood

I’ve seen it time and time again, spouses who received orders to Fort Leonard Wood FREAK OUT in the spouse forums. Then, the negative comments roll in. I mean, they really paint Fort Leonard Wood A.K.A Fort Lost in The Woods as the worst duty station ever!

“There is NOTHING to do there”

“You’re land locked in Middle America, it’s HORRIBLE”

“The Post Is So Small, You’ll HATE it”

So, in true Positive Patty Fashion, I am here to offer the unpopular opinion about Fort Leonard Wood and I am hoping to let the “New Spouse in Town” know that it’s not all bad after all. We lived in Fort Leonard Wood for 3 years and they were quite honestly the BEST 3 years of our lives!

Pros:

Fort Leonard Wood is one of the MOST family friendly duty stations.

One of the things that I loved so much about Fort Leonard Wood is how family oriented it was. Everyone knew each other from the top to the bottom of the COC. Organizational days were often and they always made sure to include family members in the fun day festivities. Most holidays you can count on a family oriented celebration (My Favorite is the 4th of July Concert and Firework show) but even on a regular basis, MWR did an amazing job with having events planned. ACS was also amazing. When I was pregnant, they offered free parenting classes for 6 weeks that ended in an Army baby shower.

The post is small which means it is easy to find your way as a newbie. I have heard horror stories about the bigger bases like Fort Hood, Riley and Bragg but in less than a week, you’ll be able to navigate your way through post like a champ. It’s pretty simple North (Main) gate exits to St. Robert and West Gate exits to Waynesville. South and East gate are basically never used unless you live outside of them which is RARE.

Speaking of living arrangements, I never lived on post but I absolutely loved living in Waynesville. People who choose to live off post choose between 2 cities which are St. Robert and Waynesville. They should really be one city if you ask me but that’s beside the point. While St. Robert houses Walmart, chain restaurants like Ruby Tuesdays, Cracker Barrel and Starbucks; Waynesville is where all the charm is. In downtown Waynesville, you find more small town shops and eateries. Please be sure to take advantage of those!

By the way, the small- town restaurants and thrift shops absolutely make Fort Leonard Wood as enjoyable as it is. Indulge in them and you will not be disappointed. Some of my favorite restaurants in the area are: Mamma Mia (Greek Cuisine), Purn’s Thai Kitchen and Ichiban Japanese and Small cakes Cupcakery. If these options don’t cut it for you, Rolla is a short 20 min drive and they have tons of more familiar places to eat and shop.

One of the things I could not conclude the Pros without mentioning is how easy it is to advance your education as soldiers and as spouses. The Fort Leonard Wood area is saturated with college and certificate programs that are yellow ribbon or military friendly schools. I am twice a graduate from Drury University and I absolutely loved my experience. All the schools understand the military lifestyle and they are very accommodating when it comes to our everyday needs and schedules.

What You Need to Know About Being Stationed at Fort Leonard Wood

Cons:

I am a bit bias because Fort Leonard Wood was my favorite duty station thus far but like every duty station, it has its share of cons

The summer can be extremely hot while the winter can be an uncomfortable cold. While originally from the south I was expecting Missouri to be bone chilling cold, I was pleasantly surprised that it was not. The cold is just uncomfortable and you would prefer to stay indoors. The weather can also be tricky. It can be 36 degrees on Sunday and 77 by Wednesday, you just never know. Also, it tends to rain a lot in the winter and that makes the rain ridiculously icy.

Next is the wildlife. If you’re driving late at night or early in the morning you’ll come across a herd of deer. They are everywhere, both on and off post and unfortunately, they got my husband right before we PCSd. With no one to blame the damage on, we were stuck with the $500 deductible…YIKES! Also, in the summer the bugs can be kind of crazy. We have seen freakishly large spiders and I don’t do bugs well so you can imagine how that turned out!

The last con would be it’s distance from the city. Being a city girl I loved the change of pace but for some this is a real issue. Springfield is 1 ½ hours away, St Louis is 2 hours away, Branson is 2 hours away, Lake of the Ozarks is 1 hour away and Kansas City is 3+ Hours away. If you want to do some real city vacationing you’re going to have to travel for it but for us, it really made our experience in Missouri fun. Most of our fun stories are based on the day trips we took.

I know you’re tired of reading at this point but I really wanted to defend Fort Leonard Wood and give it credit where credit is due. Like any post, there will be good and bad but Military Life is absolutely what you make it. If you’re heading to Fort Leonard Wood and have any additional questions, please feel free to email me at SierraRedmond95@gmail.com.

Introduction:

Sierra RedmondSierra Redmond is the creator of The Daily Impressions Lifestyle Blog. On the blog they offer tips, tricks, stories and advice on the topics of Family life, Parenting, Travel and life in the Military. Sierra is a 22-year-old Army Wife and stay at home Blogger/Mompreneur. Catch her on her blog and social media:

https://www.thedailyimpressions.com/

Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/IamSierraRed

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheDailyImpressions

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/TheDailyImpressions

13 Memes for a Military PCS

by

13 Memes for a Military PCS13 Memes for a Military PCS

PCSing! A big part of being a military spouse is moving every few years. While some families move after a just year and some don’t move for five or more, most military families are moving at least every 3-4 years. And that doesn’t include moving to a different home at the same duty station.

I have been through three PCS moves myself. We moved from Kentucky to Germany, within Germany, and then to Tennessee. In addition to that, I have probably moved about 15 times since leaving my parents house. Moving isn’t very much fun but a PCS can be a way to have a fresh start.

Here are 13 memes all about a military PCS:

Military PCS

Yes, you will be waiting for what seems like forever only to be told you have one week to get everything done. It’s crazy but that is pretty much what can happen, especially during an overseas PCS when you are waiting on a lot of paperwork.

Military PCS

This is for real! Sometimes you get amazing housing, sometimes you don’t. Such as military life.

Yes, you might not be excited about where you are moving but that doesn’t mean you won’t make the very best friends of your life there.

Military PCS

The number one tip for finding new friends at your duty station is to keep putting yourself out there.

Military PCS

Yep, nothing is final until you are physically there.

Military PCS

That would be the best!

Military PCS

Yes, finding friends at your new duty station will make your time there so much better. Being lonely isn’t any fun.

Military PCS

So true! All three of my kids were born in different places.

Military PCS

I really didn’t know where my son was going to start kindergarten until a year before and we got orders to Ft. Campbell. A lot of people have less time than that.

Military PCS

Yep! Don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Military PCS

Yes, you never know where you might end up!

Military PCS

I think we still probably have some from 2005.

Military PCS

Just got to go with the flow here…

How many PCS moves have you been through?

The Truth About Military Duty Stations

by

The Truth About Military Duty Stations

I just wanted to go home. I hated it there. Everything about that place was starting to get on my nerves. We were still months away from PCSing and the closer that date got, the harder it was to be patient. I wanted to move so badly. Live somewhere else. Get out of where we were.

Looking back, it seems unreal that I thought this about being stationed in Germany. Being stationed in Europe is a dream come true. Doing so was an amazing experience and one I am very thankful for. But after a couple of years of being away from the US, all I wanted to do was go somewhere else.

The Truth About Military Duty Stations

There are always a lot of questions about duty stations in my Facebook community. So many people want to know what to expect and what living in some locations will be like.

These questions are a good idea so that military spouses can find out more about what they will be doing in the future. I know I always have a ton of questions before I move somewhere new.

Duty stations come in all different sizes and are located in very different places. Hawaii is going to be an entirely different experience than being stationed in upstate New York.

The Truth about Duty stations

So what is the truth about military duty stations?

Some are better than others, but…

Some duty stations are better than others. The housing is better, the weather is more ideal in California than it is in the South, and some places have more resources than others. Some locations are favorites of military families and some places cause a lot of dread when they are brought up.

The truth is, you could have an enjoyable experience at a horrible place, or you could have a horrible experience in paradise. Homesickness can kick in and if you are stationed far from home, going to visit can be difficult.

If you do get orders for one of the less popular duty stations, try not to get too upset about them. You never know what your experience will be like and you may just figure out how to bloom where you are stationed.

The people make the difference

The people you meet at your duty station can make the difference. In one place you could end up in the right neighborhood and makes friends very quickly. These are the people that you will remember after you PCS. They are the ones that will make your experience at your duty station what it is.

In other places, you could struggle to make friends and not finding your tribe can be a difficult place to be in. You might look back on those years with unfavorable memories and dread simply because you had a hard time connecting with others.

If you have issues with different people at your duty station, that is going to change your experiences as well. Too much drama and feeling like you don’t fit in can make your time there not as great.

The Truth about duty stations

Things change all the time

No matter where you are or how you feel about your duty station, things change all the time. People PCS away, you can move, even within the same city, your kids get older, and you PCS yourself.

Whenever I feel like I have found my group of friends in my current city, I am aware that things will change. That what we have at the moment will not last forever and that things will be different in the future.

This is a good thing if you don’t like where you live, not so good if you do.

Duty stations don’t last forever

If you hate where you live, don’t think it will get any better, and can’t wait to leave, eventually, you will. Although some military families do stay at the same place for a while, most move at least every 3-5 years. Some even more often.

You will eventually PCS out of where you are now. You might have to be patient and wait for that, but the day will eventually come.

Same duty station, completely different experiences

You should always keep in mind that two people can have completely different experiences at the same duty station. Here at Fort Campbell, we have people that love this place and never want to go anywhere else and those that loathe it and can’t wait to move.

I think your experience at a particular duty station is going to depend on a few factors. One is where you are from and what you are used to. If you come from California, living in a much colder part of the country is going to make a difference.

Your experience is also going to depend on your house, your spouse’s unit and even the ages of your children. You could have two completely different experiences at the same place simply because there are 10 years in between.

The truth of military duty stations

When it comes to duty stations, remember that seeking advice is a good thing but don’t get discouraged by bad comments. Know that you will probably be able to experience many different places during your spouse’s career and that you won’t stay in one place forever.

What do you love the most about your current duty station?

Moving Every Few Years As a Military Family Isn’t a Bad Thing

by

Moving Every Few Years As a Military Family Isn't a Bad Thing

Moving Every Few Years As a Military Family Isn’t a Bad Thing

I have been visiting my family this summer; they still live in the house I grew up in. We moved in when I was just five years old, and I lived there until I left their home at the age of 18, going off to college.

I grew up in this city. I graduated high school with most of the same people I started 1st grade with. Almost every part of this city has a memory attached to it.

As I was driving home from meeting a friend for lunch, I couldn’t help but think of all that. There was the street we would go down to get to junior high. There was where the old McDonald’s was we used to go to before youth group on Wednesday nights. There was the 7-11 I would grab a slushie from walking home from school.

Military Spouse Life

The list could go on and on.

As I reflected on this, I started thinking about military life and how for so many, this is the opposite of how their kids are growing up. Moving every three years, making new friends, exploring new places.

As military kids grow up they won’t have that one place where they called home; they will have several. Some they will have stronger memories of that others.

They might never again see anyone they went to 1st grade with, losing touch when they or their classmates move away, which is guaranteed to happen.

When they look back on their junior high years, they are probably not going to be anywhere near where their parents decided to retire. Those streets might even be foreign to them if that happens after they leave home.

Some military families do stay put. Some can extend their stays at their duty stations for longer than three or four years. Some stay so that kids can finish high school; others stay because they do want to put down those roots and somehow military life let them.

Why Moving Every Few Years As a Military Family Isn't a Bad Thing

But for most military families, the moving, the changing of places, the pcsing, it all becomes the norm.

Where you lived when your children were babies can be literally across the world from where you will live when they are teenagers.

Although some military families can go back to past duty stations, none of the same people are there the second time around, and that changes things.

Over the years, we can return to visit our own hometowns. Some of us left at 18, ready to start our own lives.

And once you do that. Once you leave, you can never really return. Even if you do, things will be different. You will be different.

I haven’t moved as much as some military families. As a Guard family, you tend to stay in the same place. But I have lived in places so very different from my home town in Southern California.

I have been able to experience a small German village, a southern military friendly city, and have enjoyed a lot of experiences I would never have had I stayed in Southern California.

If you are getting ready to move somewhere new, if you are getting ready to PCS somewhere out of your comfort zone, if you are scared of being away from home, remember that you will be learning so many things from all the places you end up.

Why Moving Every Few Years As a Military Family Isn't a Bad Thing

You will meet people you would never have. You will do things you never thought about before. You will experience how other people have lived, even if how they do so is so very different from your own upbringing.

Military life forces you out of your comfort zone. How can it not? So whether you are two hours from where you grew up, a two days drive, or a flight longer than you ever could have imagined, know that you will learn and grow as a person from being able to live there.

Look at moving as the biggest adventure. No, you might not be able to give your children the stability of a hometown for all of their 18 years, but you will be able to provide them with a life filled with new experiences.

What is one thing you have enjoyed about moving around every few years as a military family?