Are you military?

My husband is a Marine. He's been in for almost 9 years. We're stationed in North Carolina. I like - benefits, sense of community (especially being in a military town), meeting new people, etc. I don't like - deployments, when he's out in the field or has duty and friends coming and going every few months (due to PCS) and having to play both Mom and Dad to our kid so much. I cope well with this kind of lifestyle but I'm worried for our little one. He's only 2 now and my husband has already missed half of his life and he's due to deploy again end of this year. But we make the best of our circumstances, right? My husband wants to retire from the Marine Corps. So, we're going to be living this lifestyle for quite awhile still :)

My father is retired USAF, so I have a bit of a different perspective... It definitely is a different lifestyle, one that many civilian families just can not relate to. I think being a an Air Force brat has made me more flexible and it seems to be easier for me to change than for others. But I do feel like I missed out on the long term friendships that some of my friends now have had. I do not feel much of a connection to my high school (I went there for the last three years of my schooling and then moved away to college)and do not really talk to anyone from my youth. I am a bit envious of my friends when they are talking with a long time friend that they have known all their lives. On the positive side, I have experienced and seen so many things that they think are amazing.

I was in the USAF for like almost nine years; I liked it but got tired of the things I didn't care for, so at the time, they were offering folks to get out with decent seperation package, and I took it and got out. But I am proud of my military experience; Matter of fact, one recruiter was trying to get me back in and I was like, well ya'll must be desperate because it's been like twelve years since I've been in; but I guess with Iraq and all, whosoever will, come in.

I have 2 military uncles. And very many relatives who are soldiers like them too. I love my uncle, a scout ranger. I just hated it that before his retirement, he become missing. Then I heard his wife now with 2 kids with 2 different fathers in a span of 5 years from the date my uncle was missing. My other uncle also a scout ranger is great. He loves coming home once a year. He just happen to have 2 kids with the same women other than his wife. He lives with his real wife and his first child but the youngest lives with us. His real wife can't bear a child, now He can't tell his real wife that he had 2 kids with one woman.

yeah military here...currently in san luis obispo as an army recruiter. let me tell you what fun that is. i have been in for seven years now...