Hopeful for Orders

Moving to new places is one of the amazing opportunities that we have as a Navy family. We love visiting new places and meeting new people when my husband takes a duty, especially when it is somewhere we have never been before. It is important to me that my kids experience different cultures, whether they be different ways of thinking within our own country or overseas. (Believe it or not, there are many subcultures within the US!) We usually get a posting every three years but sometimes they are cut short due to some things we have experienced like promotions and hurricanes. We usually end up moving once getting to a new duty station as well, when you start out in a place you have never been before you get to know the area better and the desire to live in a better house is usually what sways our decision for us. Here in Canada the decision was made for us to move prematurely when our rental house was sold within the six months that we had been there. it was a blessing though, our home here is wonderful and we were lucky to find such a cute little farm!

I know the word "moving" strikes fear in many people but for is it is exciting. After 11 years being affiliated with the Military for me and 13 for Josh we have our own routine and I pride myself in being able to effectively pass white glove inspections upon move out and able to have a house fully unpacked within two weeks of getting our HHG shipment. Yearly we purge in the off chance that we get last minute orders, we have been given 30 days notice to transfer twice now so I am always ready.

Our assignment in Canada was only supposed to be a two year assignment but we were involuntarily extended in lieu of the Continuing Resolution with congress and their inability to agree on budgets, one of which included the DOD. Thankfully that mess has been taken care of so now we are on the hunt for new orders for either late 2011 or early 2012. Lat month's CMS didn't have much for Josh's particular skills within his job so we passed on all of them. He is looking to do sea duty again as a LCPO Afloat in hopes for E-8 advancement, although we would never turn down a shore assignment. Here are some of the places we are considering:

Yokosuka, Japan
Everett, WA
Ft Meade NSA, MD
San Diego, CA

We are really hoping for Japan. We have all been wanting to get back after our vacation to Tokyo last May. Our entire family just fell in love with the country, the people, the food... we did not want to even come home! While the kids are young I want to get them out in the world, I just feel it makes better educated and adjusted adults. So, please cross your fingers and toes, wish on a star and say a prayer that we find out that the Land of the Rising Sun is within our near future :)

*I have had some friends and family voice concerns about going to Japan, especially after the earthquake. To that I say that natural disasters happen everywhere. The news has always been filled with stories of devastating hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, tornadoes, etc. Natural disasters happen in every part of the world and we couldn't run away from them if we wanted to! I refuse to pass on the opportunity of living in amazing places where my kids can learn so much just because something might happen again. Life is too short to live like that! Where ever we go we be sure to be prepared by having a safety plan, an evacuation route and supplies.... awareness and preparation is the best thing I can teach my children, fear is not.