Friday, September 23, 2011

When Should I Panic????

We are closing in on the end.  In a week, we will be getting our second to last paycheck from the military.  (Thank goodness they never did away with once a month pay, but really, that was my biggest concern back then?  LOL)  Sure we have retirement coming in after that, but heck, that's squat--but don't get me wrong, it's a hard earned, much appreciated squat!

We got our first ever electricity bill.  What do you mean it isn't included in our rent and you won't pay me if I don't use it all????  Water?  That costs money?  Oh dear, the hot tub is heated with gas?

I'm thinking we should live by candlelight....or by lantern?  This whole settling into the civilian world is new to me.  We have never ever rented a house.  We've never had to take care of a pool and hot tub....I'm totally not complaining about those two perks though.  We never had to learn how to take care of sprinklers, or have such a huge lawn that I can't mow it with just a weedeater.

Did you know that they pick up trash more than one day a week in the civilian world?  I had no clue!  What's better is that I have no idea when they pick up the trash because, well, it's Gunner's job!

The house seems huge to us, and I actually don't have enough/right size/right color curtains to cover the windows regardless of the 10 houses we have lived in previously.  I am thinking I am going to create re-adjustable curtains for military families.

We have a two car garage.  Do you know how much stuff you can fit in that?  (I'm blaming it on the fact that we haven't had time to unpack, not on anything else, I repeat, not on anything else.)

We are back in the land of mexican food.  Heaven.

I joined the "Biggest Loser" at work.  I am probably way too competitive for this.  I have to win, as there is money involved.  I told my crossfit coach I joined.  He's as competitive as I am.  He rides me, and questions everything I eat.  I love it.  Count on me to win, win, win and my clothes to fit, fit, fit!

So while I settle into civilian life, I am starting to mourn the military life.  No deployments?  (That's good, but also bad, because let's be honest, those homecomings ROCK!)   My kids will no longer be able to wear "My dad fights for freedom, what does your dad do?" tshirts.  Of course there is always the me factor, in that for over 10 years, we have never lived together longer an about 15 months.  Yikes!

I have friends that are getting ready to PCS now, and I am totally jealous, but of course while we were doing our first PCS to Germany, they were probably in junior high, or as my children remind me daily, it's called middle school.

I'm thinking early bedtime tonight so I can work tomorrow, then lounge in the pool the rest of the weekend.  I think now would have been the ideal time for me to be a SAHM!

P.S.  Gunner has been home for 5 months.  Amazing!