Adjustment

To say there is adjustment in the military life would be a huge understatement. You have to learn to adjust on a daily basis. It is not like a regular 9-5 job where you have somewhat of a say in how the job goes. This job tells you what to do, what to wear, and how it goes. When I first started my journey as an army wife, I had a lot to learn on this. I didn't understand the way things were. While he was in school for his job, things weren't so bad. He went to school, he came home...pretty normal to me. I was about to be thrown for a loop when we got to our first duty station. As soon as we got to Savannah, deployment talk happened right away. He was to be deployed in a few months. Which put him right into their deployment schedule of field time, extra training, long days at the office. He would tell me he would be home at a certain time, then that time would roll around and he wasn't home. He would come home late most nights after dinner was cooked or even after the girls were in bed. It was hard to adjust to not knowing when he would be home after having him home at a certain time for most of our marriage.
There have been many other times of adjustments I have had to make (not only me, but my whole family). But I have learned to just roll with it. You really can't plan anything and when change comes your way (again) you just make the best of it.
The most recent adjustment has been our move to Alaska. I have said before that JT loves this place. He was born to be here. I on the other hand was born to stay in the south. I love the humidity. Yes, I said I love it. I like knowing that I can go on a nature walk and probably only encounter a squirrel. I like the sun and "normal" hours of light and dark. I am not crazy about snow for more than a day. So, getting use to being in Alaska has taken some time. It didn't help that when we got here, they start talking deployment and field time. My first thought is that I moved to Alaska to be by myself. Well, almost 6 months have passed and I can say I like Alaska. Would I make it my forever home? No. It is too far away from family for that to happen. I prefer at least a day drive over a 2 week drive to see family. But the last frontier has a lot to offer. There aren't too many places to go wild berry picking on the side of a mountain or catch some of the ugliest fish in the south. I do think Alaska is one of the prettiest places I have ever been to. The air is fresh and not contaminated by paper mills or things like that. Even on the hottest day, there is a crispness to the air. When we are out and about, I find that I like Alaska more and more. Anchorage itself, I am not so crazy about. I don't think it is very pretty or quaint. It could be a very cute city. But the "wild" Alaska is wonderful. I will appreciate my time here whenever we do leave. I know one day the girls will too. What kids can say they have been fishing in Alaska as many times as Ella and Olivia have? Not too many. I also love that Alaska and Alaskans are not like other Americans. They are truly different. I wish I could put into words how they are different, it is something you have to experience yourself. It is very refreshing though. They just look at things different than the rest of us do and I kind of like it. (Now, ask me if I still like Alaska after the winter...I may have a different opinion.)
But all in all, I am adjusting to life here. When I just learn to lose a little control and just go with it, life seems to be a little better and a lot less stressful.