People not in the military (okay, I get that technically I'm not in the military, but my hubby is and when your spouse is in the military then you are in the military) always ask me how hard is it to move every few years, to make friends, to be away from your family. I guess for some people it probably is hard. I mean yes, it is hard to be away from your family and to always be saying goodbye to people you've grown to love every few years, but I think if you focus on all that you're missing as a military family then you're missing out on all you are receiving.
When I first got to Valdosta I HATED it. There wasn't even an Olive Garden (private joke for my Valdosta peeps). It seemed hard to fit into a place where people can trace their family's back for generations and everyone knows everyone. It seemed like we were always running into some girl Paul dated (good thing I'm hot and always look my best and have a smoking body). I missed the close group of friends I had in Sarasota and felt homesick. But then I met Emily and from Emily I met Anne-Marie and Brittney and an entire wonderful group of women and my life totally changed. Suddenly I was crying as it was time to leave Valdosta...the place I initially hated.
Then we got to Boston. A whole different world from the south. It was hard to meet people to do anything social with because everyone lives so far apart. No more calling up someone at the last minute to go out to dinner because everyone in Valdosta lives 5 minutes from downtown. Going out in the greater Boston area requires major planning because with distance comes traffic and it takes forever to get anywhere. People, as a whole, are more focused on their own personal lives up here rather than on community (or at least it seems like that to me).
So, while in Valdosta none of our friends were in the military, suddenly I had to look to the military for friendships and what an amazing group of friends we've found in the Air Force. I had my friends Jessica and Alison over for lunch today. Jessica and I have been hanging out for over a year, but Alison and I had only met once. She's a new mom, too, and wouldn't you know it is getting ready to PCS to DC with her hubby. Dang it because lunch was so fun! I think the 3 of us spent 30 minutes talking about our love of reality tv shows and our BFF Bethany F.
It got me thinking though...our time as a group (for the group we hang out with) is almost up. We all have been here 2 years and as soon as next summer we all could be going our separate ways. Hopefully some of us will end up at the same base again because this group has truly become our family up here. They come over for holidays, for cookouts, for game nights and are the people I rely on when Paul is out of town or when we need help moving furniture. They are the people I would trust Emma with or to housesit or petsit.
Being in the military can be hard, but it can also be incredibly enriching and rewarding. It's all a matter of perspective. For us, we've truly been blessed in Boston and for that I am grateful.
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