Since this blog is to keep people informed, I thought it would be an appropriate place to answer some of the questions that are in my inbox, waiting to be answered (and have been for days, some even weeks *sorry guys*).
What am I up to? Well, what seems to be taking over MOST of my time and energy lately is adjusting to a different version of Navy life. Recruiting is a COMPLETELY different side of what I know as the Navy. Just when I thought we did not get much time together over the past 6 yrs, I learned that it can get worse *and it has*. As I always tell my students, even adults do not know everything, everyone is always learning something new. You teach me just as much as I teach you. Well, the Navy is a learning experience and my homework assignment: trying to stay positive.
Overall, it's not that bad. The first few weeks were a real eye opener. Kevin works all sorts of long hours, some days they aren't even the same hours. Some days he goes to work at 9 and works until 4, sometimes he goes in at 9 and works til 8, sometimes he goes in at 6 and works until 6, you get the idea. What makes it difficult is my subbing schedule, he never knows until the end of the day what time his next day will start and when I've already scheduled a job, its just too bad. So, we either stay up late hanging out and talking about the day *and I pay the price in the morning* or we eat dinner when he walks in the door and head to bed. In short, its not your typical Navy 7:30-4:00 kind of job!
Besides that, I am getting used to being told *the night before* that he *or both of us* have to go to L.A., Oxnard, Santa Barbara, etc. EVERYTHING *paperwork, indoc, medical, putting people "in" the Navy, etc* is in the L.A. area, so there are A LOT of trips to/from there. I am still adjusting to "a life on the road" and have found a whole new set of worries to consume myself with! Instead of worrying about his safety in the desert, in the air, or at all of the unique/interesting training missions, I now worry about him, in a car, on the road, exhausted, overworked and stressed. I try to tell myself what will be will be, but that is not comforting when the topic is your loved one.
I am also getting used to late night phone calls/text messages, young gals chatting with my husband, random people stopping us in the grocery store, Walmart, restaurant, etc. and starting up a conversation about the Navy or changing their minds about joining. Honestly, I cannot go ANYWHERE now looking a bit frumpy because everytime I do, I end up being introduced to someone. Then, I stand there feeling self conscious and wondering if they are thinking "why would I join the Navy? Look how far it got you--yikes!" Ha!
To sum it up, our new "Navy life" consumes our entire life. We eat it, sleep it, drink it, *you get the idea* but, the fact is the trade off is worth it in the end. We're two hours from our parents, nephews and siblings (we're 5 min. from one of Kevin's sisters). We've managed to watch our nephews turn 2, have family/friends over at our house *instead of us visiting them*, we are about to be present for the birth of our new niece AND *this is Kevin's favorite* we can pack 2 small carry-on sized duffle bags to go home for a visit! So, overall, I guess the pros outweight the cons, BUT my outlook on this adventure changes depending on which day you talk to me *hey, we all have our bad days*. Overall, it's just another hump and plateau on the rollercoaster of Navy life!
Are you subbing a lot? Yes and No, but the option is there! I can sub pretty much any time I want, although I don't get to as often as I would like (well, as often as my savings account would like, anyways). There have been numerous occasions when a job becomes available and I either have something I need to get done, somewhere I need to go, or the world of recruiting plops something in my lap to address. So, I sub when there is free time in my life or when I start to go crazy because I have free time. HA! Overall, yes it is a job with many opportunities. Furthermore, there are several full-time jobs being offered, I just don't think it is the right time in our lives for both of us to be running in two completely different directions. We're still trying to settle in, settle down and get into a groove. So, maybe next year. Anyone who knows me knows that when the dust settles, I'll get bored and be out there looking!
Well, this is getting kind of lengthy, so I will close for now. I hope this answered many of your questions. If not, keep sending them my way! Much love to everyone. Have a wonderful weekend!
This quote just seems like an appropriate way to end my blog today:
What am I up to? Well, what seems to be taking over MOST of my time and energy lately is adjusting to a different version of Navy life. Recruiting is a COMPLETELY different side of what I know as the Navy. Just when I thought we did not get much time together over the past 6 yrs, I learned that it can get worse *and it has*. As I always tell my students, even adults do not know everything, everyone is always learning something new. You teach me just as much as I teach you. Well, the Navy is a learning experience and my homework assignment: trying to stay positive.
Overall, it's not that bad. The first few weeks were a real eye opener. Kevin works all sorts of long hours, some days they aren't even the same hours. Some days he goes to work at 9 and works until 4, sometimes he goes in at 9 and works til 8, sometimes he goes in at 6 and works until 6, you get the idea. What makes it difficult is my subbing schedule, he never knows until the end of the day what time his next day will start and when I've already scheduled a job, its just too bad. So, we either stay up late hanging out and talking about the day *and I pay the price in the morning* or we eat dinner when he walks in the door and head to bed. In short, its not your typical Navy 7:30-4:00 kind of job!
Besides that, I am getting used to being told *the night before* that he *or both of us* have to go to L.A., Oxnard, Santa Barbara, etc. EVERYTHING *paperwork, indoc, medical, putting people "in" the Navy, etc* is in the L.A. area, so there are A LOT of trips to/from there. I am still adjusting to "a life on the road" and have found a whole new set of worries to consume myself with! Instead of worrying about his safety in the desert, in the air, or at all of the unique/interesting training missions, I now worry about him, in a car, on the road, exhausted, overworked and stressed. I try to tell myself what will be will be, but that is not comforting when the topic is your loved one.
I am also getting used to late night phone calls/text messages, young gals chatting with my husband, random people stopping us in the grocery store, Walmart, restaurant, etc. and starting up a conversation about the Navy or changing their minds about joining. Honestly, I cannot go ANYWHERE now looking a bit frumpy because everytime I do, I end up being introduced to someone. Then, I stand there feeling self conscious and wondering if they are thinking "why would I join the Navy? Look how far it got you--yikes!" Ha!
To sum it up, our new "Navy life" consumes our entire life. We eat it, sleep it, drink it, *you get the idea* but, the fact is the trade off is worth it in the end. We're two hours from our parents, nephews and siblings (we're 5 min. from one of Kevin's sisters). We've managed to watch our nephews turn 2, have family/friends over at our house *instead of us visiting them*, we are about to be present for the birth of our new niece AND *this is Kevin's favorite* we can pack 2 small carry-on sized duffle bags to go home for a visit! So, overall, I guess the pros outweight the cons, BUT my outlook on this adventure changes depending on which day you talk to me *hey, we all have our bad days*. Overall, it's just another hump and plateau on the rollercoaster of Navy life!
Are you subbing a lot? Yes and No, but the option is there! I can sub pretty much any time I want, although I don't get to as often as I would like (well, as often as my savings account would like, anyways). There have been numerous occasions when a job becomes available and I either have something I need to get done, somewhere I need to go, or the world of recruiting plops something in my lap to address. So, I sub when there is free time in my life or when I start to go crazy because I have free time. HA! Overall, yes it is a job with many opportunities. Furthermore, there are several full-time jobs being offered, I just don't think it is the right time in our lives for both of us to be running in two completely different directions. We're still trying to settle in, settle down and get into a groove. So, maybe next year. Anyone who knows me knows that when the dust settles, I'll get bored and be out there looking!
Well, this is getting kind of lengthy, so I will close for now. I hope this answered many of your questions. If not, keep sending them my way! Much love to everyone. Have a wonderful weekend!
This quote just seems like an appropriate way to end my blog today:
"A man should control his life. Mine is controlling me." --Rudolph Valentino
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