The one year mark

Alison and I have made it our mission to try as many different coffee shops and acai bowls that we can.  We love how there are unique little shops everywhere you turn, especially when they're close to some shopping or the ocean.

This is just one perk of San Diego and I'm thankful every day that I get to live here.  This past year has been full of joy, healing and peace.  

So I was surprised, when life started to feel a little less joyful and peaceful.  Discontentment was knocking at my door and I was so confused.  How could I be complaining about a place that I love and that I longed to be in for a long time?  And then I realized what it was; we've been here a year.  I get the same feeling at the one year mark every time we move and we've done it enough times now that I can recognize it.

You see, there's this cycle that we go through.  When you first get to a new place, life is chaotic and unsettled.  Time is consumed with just getting the basics set up and trying to get kids to feel settled in their new spaces.  We tend to move in really quickly, but this is still a good two to three months of life.  Then you have space and energy to start building your new life.  Hope fills your soul as you search for what this life will look like.  You look at churches and sport groups and co-ops.  You try new restaurants and explore new parks.  It's exciting to gather information and explore what potentially could be your life.  And then at the year mark, you realize that you've done all the exploring that can be done and what is your life, is what it will be.  The acquaintances you have, will be the people in your life.  The routines you've slid into, those will continue.  It is what it is.  The hope and excitement diminish and you have to settle into a year of that life.  

What hits me hardest is friendships.  Anyone we meet after this point, probably won't want to let us in their life as we can no longer say "We'll be here for 3 years".  Unfortunately for me, friendships are important and it makes living this transient military life seem overwhelming.