Reality setting in

For certain, over the past two weeks we've felt some growing pains.

Nick and I have taken turns struggling with the loss of our easy life in southern California in exchange for a foreign, complicated new life in the D.C. metropolis.

We've questioned our choice in neighborhoods, houses and civilian versus on-base housing.

We've even wondered what we're still doing in the Navy, with all of the moving and uprooting so often.

In short, change is getting harder for us as we get further along in our career. There's more riding on it now.

But, while the two of us have agonized over paint choices, sofa shopping, grocery-store finding and wondered if the neighborhood on the other side of town or on the other side of the Potomac might have been a better fit for our family, the ones we take care of -- the ones we're doing all of this agonizing for -- are making themselves right at home.



They are translating their old life into a new language here. And they don't seem to mind the change. In fact, they're doing just fine.

They've already got playdates scheduled and are planning on soccer and ballet for the fall.

They've embraced a new pool, a new library and wooded parks in place of the beach.

And they love our new house and their bedrooms.

 

I suppose, when Nick and I take just a small step back from the work and emotional strain of being the chief laborers and decision-makers in this life, we could probably see that we're doing just fine here, too.