I admit I didn’t know much about Ft Riley or Manhattan, Kansas, before we arrived. When the PCS orders came through, I pulled up a map, blinked at the space between cities, and wondered what life might look like here. If you’re preparing for a move to Ft Riley, I…
Category: MILITARY LIFE & TRAVEL
Military life changes how you see the world. It means building a marriage across distance, raising children between duty stations, and learning to shape a home out of temporary walls. It means goodbyes every few years, late-night phone calls from overseas, and a level of resilience most people never witness.
This category gathers the stories that grow out of that life—SpaceA trips that opened the world to us, the hard lessons of supporting a partner through PTSD, the realities of saving money on base, and the quiet worries many of us carry as political decisions ripple through our communities. You’ll also find guides for PCS moves, memories from growing up as an Army brat, reflections on quarantine in Korea, and the push-and-pull between service and personal identity.
These posts offer practical help and emotional truth for anyone living the military journey or trying to understand it. Whether you’re navigating your first assignment or your tenth move, you’re not doing it alone.
MILITARY LIFE & TRAVEL
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Army Brat Life: Lessons From a Childhood on the Move
Cherished memories of my Army Brat childhood abroad in South Korea. It wasn’t just good, it was phenomenal.
MILITARY LIFE & TRAVEL
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How to Decorate Military Housing Without Spending a Fortune
Military life is colorful, but military housing is not! Your rental or on-post housing will most likely pair beige carpeting with white walls. A combination creating a 360° panorama of ho-hum. The typical military PCS is every 2-3 years. Home decorating tips for the military spouse need to make your…
MILITARY LIFE & TRAVEL
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Baumholder Military Life: What Made Our German Apartment So Special
Don’t get me wrong, I loved our little apartment in Baumholder, but that town was well-known for its contrary weather. We fondly and not so fondly referred to it as the rock. We lived in an old stone mansion that had been renovated into four large apartments. We shared the second floor with a retired German officer. The first floor was split between a US Major and his wife. Across the hall was a 90+ year old German widow.
MILITARY LIFE & TRAVEL
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Saying Goodbye Every Three Years in the Military
There are too many goodbyes in the military. It was barely 5 am— soldiers’ time. The ground was wet and the air was damp from the early morning dew. We sat in the comfort of our Honda. The heat at full blast. And the radio was silent. Many of the…
MILITARY LIFE & TRAVEL
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Daily Life in Daegu: One Military Spouse Perspective
If we weren’t expats in South Korea, daily life would be uneventful. But in South Korea, everything from shopping to going to a restaurant, going to the movies, or riding in a taxi is an opportunity for adventure. And this is what I love about living in Daegu. The ordinary…
MILITARY LIFE & TRAVEL
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Military Life: The Insider Guide to Surviving PCS Moves
Military life means moving—again and again. Each PCS brings new challenges, from packing memories to finding a new home. After years of cross-country and overseas relocations, I’ve learned that preparation, organization, and patience make all the difference. This guide shares my best PCS tips, real-life stories, and resources to make your next move smoother and stress-free.