I’ve noticed over time military families tend to fall into two distinct categories when it comes to unpacking after a move. While there are certainly exceptions, most of us can be classified into one of these two groups.
The first group unpacks their home within a week. The second group, however, finds themselves surrounded by unopened boxes from previous moves, adding to the mountain of boxes from their current relocation.
Personally, I have yet to find a place for everything in the house we’ve called home for the past three years. In the first year, I thought, “Oh, we have time, we just moved in.” By the second year, I reassured myself, “It will find its place soon, we’ve got time.” Now, in the third year, my mindset shifted to, “We are moving soon, so don’t worry about it.”
Never in a million years did I think my husband would be extended and we wouldn’t be moving anytime soon. Yet here we are, facing at least two more years in this house. I figured it’s finally time to put this house together and truly make it our home.
I’ve always done just enough to make it comfortable, letting the rest fall into place over time. This time, things were supposed to be different. It was supposed to be our “pit stop” until we moved into our forever home after my husband’s retirement. Now, I find myself spending days staring at the walls of each room wondering what’s needed to transform them into our “family room” or “family kitchen.”
I find myself going through boxes and discovering pieces that define a room. I’m ordering pictures to fill frames and imagining where they’ll look best. I make trips to the store, grabbing my favorite coffee drink as I browse the aisles for staple items that can tie my rooms together.
To be honest, the way I plan to turn this house into our home is by filling all the nooks and crannies with what makes us, us. I can change the countertops, add a backsplash or a pop of color to each room — renter friendly, of course. I’m so excited to walk into my house and truly feel at home.
If this phase of military life has taught me anything, it’s not to be bound by time constraints at each duty station. Have fun, make it your own and transform that house you were assigned into the place your family can call home. I can’t wait to see how it all comes together. Until next time, y’all!
