Does this military life every leave you wondering "How the heck did I get here"? I don't mean that in a bad way, just that, do you ever wake up, look around and find yourself living in a state you never in a million years thought you would live in, unemployed, thinking to yourself... damn... I didn't see this one coming.
Of course this is part and parcel of being a MilSpouse. The Army's (insert your branch here) needs and wants of your spouse trump anything else... that is expected and at some point you just have to be okay with that. I suppose that I am. (Of course being okay with it and loving it are two different things, but that is a different post entirely.) Moving is what we do. Readjusting is the norm, every three years or so. Figuring out your new duty station and town and state is just par for the course.
Anyway, I'm sitting here on a Saturday morning, waiting out the last bit of this deployment, in a new place I never thought I'd live in, watching a Summerfest concert (Sugarland) on the telly (yay Palladia! I love you!) and getting all sorts of nostalgic for home and the life I (we) had before this PCS. Yes, I'm okay with this move and I am giddy at the thought of living with my husband for a change. But do I miss home? Do I miss the things I used to do with my friends who used to be close enough to do stuff with? Do I miss all the things that make Wisconsin Wisconsin? Do I get a bit homesick for the places that have been home for so long? You bet your sweet bippy I do.
BUT. (This is where the big girl panties go on and all that stuff I spewed the other day about sucking it up and moving on and perspective and yadda, yadda, yadda comes in). I'm also looking at this PCS as an opportunity. No, it isn't the Midwest that I grew up in and love. No, there isn't Summerfest. No, there aren't brats and beer and cheese everywhere you turn. No, my friends aren't mere hours or minutes away. No, I can't stand the local colleges (they ain't no Badgers). And no, it isn't my idea of Shangri-La. And yes, it is a strange, foreign place that I often just do. not. get. But that is okay. That is a reason to go out and explore. Go the the big cities here. Go to concerts here. Go to the insane state fair. Go see all the crazy things that make this place what it is.
In short, this place being so different is exactly I (we) should treat it as a challenge... a travel destination, a place to discover, a place to figure out. We are going to explore and immerse ourselves in the litany of quirky things that make up this state. We are going to walk away from this duty station with at the very least, some great stories about the crazy things we did and saw here.
And maybe one day I will look back on our time here, see a concert or place on the telly, and get all nostalgic for this state too.
3 comments:
My husband was in the army when we met and married, then he got out for 6years and re-enlisted. It still boggles my mind to think we both sat down and CHOSE this life again. All the pluses and minuses you can think of. And Now I sit in the middle of a small town in Kentucky trying to figure out what to do with my time. No job looking at school. We moved out here from Seattle, downtown city living. It is beautiful here but definitely an adjustment.
Love the thought of looking at this as a new adventure/challenge. Seeing this new place as something to conquer and find its hidden bits. If I were visiting I would have a plan of attach, sights planned out, why not treat it that way and play tourist.
Hope you find those things that bring great memories.
um... that sitting and being nostalgic about where you are... I kinda doubt it. but maybe for the friends you will make there!
LAW
i wonder all the time. moving to georgia after never living anywhere other than northern california. closing my practice for a few years and moving on faith. only other milfolk can really get how wacky but right it is.
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