California Living

As I look out the window of my new 3 bedroom home at a perfectly blue clear sky and temperatures in the high 60's, I'm struck by just how much everything has changed in just a matter of a couple of weeks. The kids now have a huge back yard to play in, we have a beautiful front yard we can decorate, great neighbors who already have invited us over a few times, and a clean slate to work with on rebuilding our lives together. My new home has had an influx of Airmen who come and go trying to score a free meal because they have heard that "Prince's Wife" is a hell of a cook.... Laughter has been a constant and there's almost always something going on, whether its the guys playing video games, or everyone sitting around playing a round of whatever board game we are in the mood for that night (Monopoly anyone?) Life is good...

While our base is out in the middle of nowhere, we are finding there is plenty to be had in the immediate vicinity. There's plenty of programs on base for both the babies and for Alyssa. Alyssa will even be attending her first dance this coming weekend for Mardi Gras. Thirty miles up the road are plenty of nice restaurants that we scoped out this past weekend and are already making plans for date nights in the future. And of course, I get to see my husband dressed in ABU's every morning, which is beyond awesome. I do believe I can get use to this.

On the downside, there's already talk of deployments in the future. I hate talking about it, as I just got my husband back after a full year of being away and the thought of him being gone again is depressing.... I guess we can cross that bridge when we get to it. Also, as I unpack things that the movers packed, I'm finding that I really wish they had packed our goods with a bit more care. Several things are broke, including a few pieces of furniture. Luckily they will replace items (which means I get a new entertainment center) but finding that they broke my fireplace that I had just bought over Christmas was upsetting. So far I have found about 5 things damaged.

But all in all, I see this move as a good thing. Good friends, a nice home, a nice location. The view outside my backyard of the Sierra Nevada's is breathtaking and I look forward to buying a BBQ pit and doing entertaining outside this summer. So for all that are starting a new life, good luck, and make the most of it :)