We've had orders in hand since August but I'm always hesitant to say THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING because we all know the military can change its mind.
The stars up there are the places we've lived over the last nine years.
For this next assignment, Scott will be working for the Corps of Engineers, which basically means we could live anywhere in the country for the next 1-2 years, not just at an army base.
Our options were Alaska, Kentucky, or Pennsylvania.
Also on the list of possibilities, and hard, hard NOs from us were Florida, Texas, and Maryland. (No to heat and no to Baltimore.)
Anchorage, Alaska would have been the fun option for Scott and the nostalgic one for me. He could hunt and fish. I could introduce Wells to my friends and former coworkers there. We would know exactly what to expect from the place as well. And 1-2 years of non-deployable time was something I'd be able to handle.
Kentucky would've been new to us both, and Louisville (where the job is) sounded like fun.
Pennsylvania would've been the smart choice, since that's where we're from and that's where our families are and such a luxury wasn't something we ever thought would happen with the army life.
In the end, we got to say where we'd like to go, but the Corps of Engineers tells us where we WILL be going...
Clearly, the benefits of this are huge for us. We'll be less than 3 hours from both of our families, and we also have family living in Pittsburgh. We're from Pennsylvania, grew up there, and went to college there. Now we are excited for the easiness of being back home for at least a year.
Good things:
1. The Steelers. No more Bronco nonsense. (No one looks good in orange)
2. Being around all the people and places we normally only see every few years. I think it'll be a good place to spend Wells' first year or two.
Not great things:
1. We were thinking it'd be nice to introduce Wells and the dogs to Alaska because, even though it has its downsides (for me), it's been an important part of our life together. To be able to see places 10 years later and see our friends who still live there would be nice. But the complications of trying to move to Alaska in January are more than we wanted to take on, in the end.
2. Louisville would've been a fun, new adventure. The best part of the army is getting to travel.
3. Humidity. And cold, wet winters. We're not used to that.
4 month old Wells, before he grew out of his Steelers pajamas.
