When my husband announced we were moving to Keesler AFB in Mississippi, my initial response was, “Hell no. You can go, I’ll chill with my parents, or stay here in Germany while you go.” Many spouses have said something similar, sometimes half-joking, sometimes in all seriousness. The reasons can vary from safety, schools, opportunities, and more.
I didn’t know much to be excited about in Mississippi, except for Ole Miss and car shows. Frankly, neither had me thrilled. Staying in Germany wasn’t possible for me either since he had received new orders stateside. We left Germany together, and after two weeks in Biloxi, he left for training, leaving me and my poor attitude in the middle of May, struggling for joy in muggy Mississippi heat.
Feeling stuck is my least favorite feeling, and I knew I couldn’t pout for a year without feeling like I was wasting my time. I set to work finding friends, bribing myself into friendships with sangria, fudge, and homemade banana bread. It always works like a charm. I discovered a melting pot of military members, retirees, and locals, who just wanted to belong. I looked for community, found a local church I loved, and created a local women’s group. If you can’t find your people, sometimes you’ve got to build what you need, and others will join.
Fear of the unknown can destroy our experience at a new base. Trying new things is the cornerstone of military spouse life and is how we grow, explore, and meet other people. Trust that you are at that base for a reason, and there is something for you to learn there. For some bases, you are going, whether you like it or not. As Marissa Yvette, a military spouse shares, “No matter how many moves this military journey takes us on, I have learned that home is where I lay my head down at night!” That doesn’t mean it won’t be hard, but you might meet a life long friend. An Air Force spouse, Samantha Huffman, explained how bases can surprise us, “I cried when we got orders to Montana, being a big city girl. I cried again when I left Montana just two and a half years later.” You can find possibilities and glimmers of hope and joy wherever you are placed-yes, even in Mississippi, you just have to look for it.
Photo Credits: Marla Bautista, April Tottle, and Marissa Yvette