Moving - Fun or Stressful?

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Almost 7 million people moved into a new home during 2010.... And my family made up 4 of those people!

I have to admit that even though I DO NOT like packing up the whole house and unpacking it just days later, but I do enjoy the feeling of being in a new home. It's very relaxing and fun for me to sit in the middle of my new living room, looking out the windows... taking in our surroundings and dreaming about new adventures. Even though that joy doesn't last very long, the adventures are simply ordinary and your neighbors are strangers, I love it! I'm a quiet girl when I first meet someone and if I'm your new neighbor (or your my newly moved in neighbor) I'll watch you from a distance for a bit before I feel comfortable enough to talk to you. My daughters watch the kids for a bit as well but no where near as long as I do. If my neighbors have kids and my daughters enjoy playing with them... It makes things easier for conversation, but if my neighbors don't have any children and don't come knocking on my door, there's a good chance that I won't be hanging out with them any time soon.

Back to the moving ordeal... Ever since my daughters were born, my fiance and I have moved atleast once a year except this past year, we've been in the same home for just over 2 years and personally... I'm ready for a change! Some people don't agree with our way of living and say that we are doing things all wrong but it makes us happy. I know many people who have been living in the same home for many many years (like my aunt) and that perfectly fine as well. I'm pretty sure that I could enjoy living in one home for a while as long as it has plenty of room for growth... which is almost ALWAYS our problem. Needing more space is the main reason that I get antsy and begin wanting to move. I've always been a "collector" (maybe a mild hoarder haha j/k) and things get cluttered, messy and crowed when you have 2 growing girls living sharing a room and my step-sons coming and going. It's tough! Maybe I need to take some tips from Martha Stewart!!

Picking my brain for my earliest memories... I believe that I moved 9 times as a child... Between the ages of 3 and 16 years old.

My fiance only remembers moving once as a child! (That's just a tiny example of how different Alan's childhood was compared to mine!)

How many times do you remember moving as a child?

Be Prepared when Searching for Military Housing

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For military families, it can be tough to find an affordable home near their work. The DoD (Department of Defense) are the ones that you turn to when help is needed. They help military members and their families by providing housing options both on and off base. Service Members with families most often have the option of living on-base in military family housing for no cost to them. Or they can chose to live off-base and receive a monthly housing allowance. Members who are assigned to locations where dependents are not allowed to travel at the governments cost (for example: for basic training, and some overseas assignments) can live in the barracks for free, and still continue to receive the housing allowance in order to provide a home for their family.

I've been around many people who have either been in and around the military, even though I have never done so myself. I've realized that each base is different but even though the housing options are different, the rules are the same:

To live among the military family housing, the service member must be live in the house with his or her dependent(s) as in they spouse and kids. The only exceptions are for those who are deployed, or who are serving a remote overseas tour. The family members can then continue to live in military housing. If single or divorced and have custody of children for at least 1/2 of the year, then they would also qualify. If your married and you and your spouse separate, when they move out of the home with the children (if children are involved), termination of the current family housing agreement will undergo within 60 days. If the you (the military service member) moves out, then your family will lose the military housing  within 60 days. Which is not a long time when you actually think about the whole concept of moving a family. Knowing what to expect while planning your move to a military base is very important when a family is involved. Moving can be stressful all on it's on but when it comes to all of the rules from the military, being prepared can make all the difference.

I've added a couple resources in-case you find yourself needing more information about the military house options that are available for Military families.

• Living on Base: Pros and Cons
• Housing Options for Military Members and Their Families

Both articles explain the differences of living on and off base along with what to expect, they are full of interesting and useful information that I believe new military families can benefit from and I'm happy to share them with you.

Are any of you part of military family and have something to add? Feel free to comment below, I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Just Moved or Planning on Moving soon?

File your USPS Change of Address Form!

Have you recently moved or are planning on moving soon? Noone likes to lose important mail due to an address change or lost all of our magazine subscriptions!

File your USPS Change of Address Form today and keep up with all of your mail during and after your big... or small... move!