What are you supposed to do when you need to move to a new house, to a place you’ve never been before. Let alone an island in Europe?!
When your significant other receives orders for the military its called a PCS. Permanent Change of Station. PCS’s are not easy. PCS’s are stressful and TONS of work. Sometimes your husband has to report to an area before you have left the old house. You are alone and waiting for the movers to arrive and pack you stuff. Sometimes he is present to help. I know people who have moved over 15 times, I know people who have moved just a couple times. Either amount of number, it doesn’t get easier. It just gets more efficient. Emotions come with every move.
When Del received orders to move to the Azores in Portugal. Our first thought was we will 100% utilize Military housing since this location will only be a year!
But… This particular military base closed down housing. They don’t even have dorms. Only a handful of Portuguese Air Men live on base. The American Air Men have to find their own place to live.
Yikes, Where to start…
Del thought he would live in an AirBNB for a year. But it would add up to way too much money. We didn’t know where to even start looking.
God works in mysterious ways. More like saying “The World really is a small world”. You always even up finding someone who has connections.
I posted on Facebook that Del was going on this short tour. I immediately received a message from a mother of one of my previous kindergarten students who I taught in Montana. She happened to be stationed at Lajes in the Azores years ago before they made this base family “unaccompanied”. She promised everything will work out. She happened to have a friend of a friend whose husband was here for a short tour. She connected us in a group message.
I made a connection with Jessica immediately. She happened to be on the island with her kids visiting her husband for a month. I immediately asked where they were staying AND what they were driving. She sent me pictures of everything.
Within an hour- I committed to renting their house and buying their island bomber (an old Volkswagon- AWESOME!!!) for Del.
Del messaged the Landowner- Sergio- and set up a date and time to see the house. He officially committed once he was here on the island in June.
Here are the pictures of our wonderful, temporary, little island home. It is a “Minimalistic” type of year. We don’t have a lot. On purpose. I sent pictures and frames with Del so we would have a few things to make it home. Everything else can be bought again. It’s honestly perfect and easy to clean and organize! It is a STRESS FREE Home. We will only be here for 10 more months until we need to find a 4 year home in Germany.
TRUST YOUR JOURNEY
If I had to give a new military wife advice, I would tell her to breath. To TRASH stuff that you haven’s used in a year. Limit it at a year. If you didn’t use it, you don’t need it to live. Sell things on Facebook and in your yard. Do not over pack. You can get new things at your new location. No matter where you are in the world, there will be bedding, kitchen supplies, furniture, and bathroom essentials. If you do move stuff, do not stress the small things. What makes it makes it, what doesn’t doesn’t. You are alive and breathing and thats what you need to remember. If you haven’t seen the house you are moving into, relax. When you get there and if you like it- GREAT. If you get there and do not like it, move. Just Breath and trust your journey. #JUSTGO
Ciao,
Rocking Bryces 