Military life, Military wife

After we received clearance that our on-post housing was ready, Soldier did the walk through, signed the lease and got the keys. He moved everything he had been using at the hotel into the house as well as whatever he thought we'd need from the storage facility he rented. Kids and I packed up what we had at Soldier's parents house and started the drive.

Saying goodbye to all of our wonderful friends and our forever home (we had a tenant at this point) was one of the hardest things, as a family, we've done. I was scared. Our safety net was completely gone. Everything was going to be brand new for our entire family. I'd never been to where we were moving. Never even been to the state. I knew nothing about full time military life. I was and probably still am completely ignorant about the etiquette of being a military wife.

As the schools here start very early in August, we opted to start the Mad Hatter in first grade after Labor Day. That gave us a week to unpack, find our way around and get settled. We had been able to get all the paperwork online, printed, filled out and submitted since Soldier had been 'living' here for about 6 weeks. And let me tell you, there was TONS of paperwork and forms. And nothing could be submitted online.

Soldier met us at the front gate so he could be sure we got through OK and then follow him to our home. Post has very strict speed zones and gnarly implications for getting tickets so Soldier made it VERY clear that obeying the speed zones is crucial.

Upon arriving to our new home, Soldier walked us around outside. Mind you, it was about 300 degrees and 100% humidity. Nothing like where we came from. The grass here was pretty brown and pokey. Everything was a bit droopy and it was very quiet.

We came in the front door and I was really rather surprised. The entire home had been freshly painted a modern neutral color. The floors were parquet hardwood. Kitchen and bathroom were a linoleum. It was a far cry from our forever home but I was a bit excited to get our household items and furniture so we could settle in. Those came about 3 days after we arrived. It was bean bag chairs, inflatable mattresses and sleeping bags until then.

It's been a few days over one year. I still miss my forever home with the gorgeous kitchen, windows that aren't drafty and carpet. We are comfortable here and settled. I can't really complain. Much. I know more about our new neighbors of a few weeks than I do the neighbors that we met the day after we moved in.

I have no female relationships at all here. Soldier and I haven't had a date night since moving here. We don't have a sitter and finding one who doesn't come recommended from someone we know isn't much of an option since we don't really 'know' anyone that we mesh with well.

But I'm not complaining. Soldier comes home every night. Mad Hatter is doing well in the second grade and Chunky started Pre-K and is writing his name and doing really well.