The Joys(?) of PCSing

Completing a Permanent Change of Station or PCS is turning out to be a bit more challenging than I realized. On top of the bureaucratic nightmare of paperwork and "out-processing," I now am unemployed with no idea what I'm going to find when I get to my next base. From an emotional perspective, PCSing just sucks. I'm so sad about moving away from the friends I've been able to make over the last five years. Most of them are German, although a few are retired military members. I've had a serious problem making friends with military spouses so I'm not looking forward to trying it again in Japan. I have few career advancement options because the DoD is not hiring civilian positions for which I can qualify. And the best part is how frustrated I am with my husband who approaches moving from a completely different place. I would like to write lists and be prepared in advance for everything. He'd rather wait until the last minute and deal with whatever arises on the spot. At least we have planned some vacation time in between bases. But it will be back in our home state with family obligations so I'm not exactly sure how relaxing it will be. I'm going to try and look at this as an opportunity to rethink everything. How can I try things a new way and break bad habits? How can we get better at communicating, find educational tools for Natalie and for me, and return me to my creative roots? I've been reading a book that's got me thinking about spirituality and remembering how it used to work for me. I'm wondering if turning back in that direction would make a difference for me. This blog is a series of random thoughts that is, unfortunately, serving as my journal since the journal is packed and on its way to Japan right now. Oh, the joys of PCSing.