"Oh sure, I'll interrupt my regularly scheduled life and do what it takes to pick up and move my family to an island in the Pacific. Why not?" - me, sarcastically, right now.
This is the second time in our Army career (my husband's career that I support as his wife) that we have had an unexpected assignment to a dream location on an island in the Pacific. Our first assignment was to Schofield Barracks, HI in 2006. We enjoyed 3 years there. It was beautiful!
So our next assignment will be to Okinawa, Japan. The people we know who have been there are assuring us that once we get there, we will have the most amazing time due to the beauty of our surroundings, the food, and the adventures of exploring the island and the culture.
But there are hard things. I know that we will be separated from our oldest child who will stay in the US and attend college. She does this with our blessing, because it is something she is ready for, and we are happy with the plans she is pursuing. We have great friends and family who will be close to her to support her in our place. I know we'll be distant from our parents and siblings and their families, so we won't see them very often for the next three years. We like our family, so it will be hard, but we'll do our best to keep in touch through video calls and e-mail. There are many decisions to make, such as whether to sell or store our two vehicles, my piano and all the little items that we own. We have been doing a lot of mental sorting between what we will ship to Okinawa, what we will store, what we will sell, and what we will give away or discard. There are a lot of things ahead of us to prepare to go, including medical appointments and lots of learning and a bunch of planning and paperwork. And I have to do all of this extra stuff all the while managing our homeschool semester, including our three oldests' participation in volleyball for the next 8 weeks, and two of our children's drama rehearsals and performances, and our oldest's graduation and celebrations for that.
I see an analogy to my spiritual life here. God promises that our eternity with Him will be amazing, with no more mourning, crying or pain, and we will enjoy His presence and a celebration, and we will worship Him in all his glory, see Him face-to face, and enjoy the New Earth which He will create. With this hope, we press forward in this hard life among difficult work and painful experiences. With this hope, we also press into Him and nurture our relationship with Him, because He walks with us through our life, good and bad, and He provides us with joy in the journey, even when our circumstances are hard and painful. But all of the Kingdom work we do will be worth it.
I have already accomplished a lot in our preparation for the move. We've sold and donated and discarded a number of things we knew we won't need. I have found three good suitcases for pennies on the dollar at local thrift stores. We've had appointments with our PCM doctor to update our vaccinations and medical records.
I struggled pretty badly a couple days ago, overwhelmed by all that needs to be done. But today, I'm back to being motivated to complete as many projects as I can this week. Whatever I can get done now will lessen what needs to be done later. I am confident that it will be worth it.
Showing posts with label Okinawa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Okinawa. Show all posts
January 09, 2020
December 21, 2019
PCS to Okinawa in our Near Future
"From Okie to Oki"
After 14 1/2 years of Army life, we expect moves to happen every few years, and we knew this one was coming. We just didn't see this location coming! We received word this month that Summer 2020, we'll be moving from Oklahoma to Okinawa, Japan!
My first reaction was one of huge surprise, followed by concern, followed by excitement mixed with anxiety. The way I deal with anxiety is to gather more information. So for the past two weeks, we've been gathering information. Here's some of what we have learned so far:
- We're going to have to store or sell our cars, because it's not financially wise to ship a car to Japan. They drive on the other side of the road, the Japanese inspection process is picky and hard to pass with cars made for America, and we will be able to buy a used vehicle from other military families once we arrive. This is a huge bummer as my husband has a sporty car he loves (Honda S2000) and has put a lot of time and work into keeping up, and we had expected to own it for years to come. My van, a 2016 Honda Odyssey, was just purchased a year ago when our old 2006 Odyssey bit the dust. However, it's a great time to sell an S2000, as demand for this car no longer being produced is rising, and I already have had 5 people express interest in buying our van.
- We are only allowed to bring 25% of the weight allowance for my husband's rank. Everything we usually move with is always under our weight allowance. But now we'll need to leave most of our belongings in storage. The military will give us all the furniture and appliances we need once we arrive and have a house. So I'm thinking we will bring our own master bed, and a few small bookshelves (because homeschool), but leave all the rest of our furniture in the US in storage. I'm making mental lists as I look around my house as to whether it will go with us or be put in storage.
- Okinawa is almost tropical! It sits just a little way north of the Tropic of Cancer, so it's not in the tropic zone, but it's close. We had been stationed in Hawaii 2006-2009, so we know what that's like. We hear the heat is a little less bearable in summer because, unlike Hawaii, there aren't the breezes blowing. Okinawa is humid. I prefer humidity over dry air, so I expect to enjoy it. My skin and hair are happier with humidity.
- Three years from now, our children will outgrow many of the things we own. So unless they are moving with us, I don't intend to store them. Some of the sizes of winter clothes and outerwear for playing in the snow can be sold/donated. Also some of our books and toys have already been given away with this move in mind. If we won't need it in 3 years, I don't want to store it.
- We're going to have to decide whether or not to store or sell some other items, such as our ride-on mower, and our washer and dryer, and even my piano. We aren't sure they'd still work after 3 years in storage, which isn't required to be climate controlled, so damage and deterioration is possible. With that in mind, it makes better sense to sell them, and buy replacements when we return.
- Christmas decor is worth bringing, as it is hard to find in Japan. So my little artificial tree that I was thinking about replacing with a bigger one next year is actually perfect for the next 3 Christmases in Japan where we hear housing is small. Everything else Christmas I own has already been limited to 2 plastic bins for our last several years. Still, I'm thinking I'll reduce it to 1 bin to bring, 1 bin to store.
- In general, I'm enjoying the motivation to purge excess belongings. I've already sold and given away several things, and I'm finding more and more to unload as we go. I'm working on using up lotions and soaps, cleaners and batteries, and have committed to only buying what we'll use before we move. I find that if I know a place or a person that can benefit from my donation, I'm more ready to part with it. Several books went to a Christian school, babyproofing things go to new moms, more books going to a missionary retreat house, some of our toys were re-gifted to nieces and nephews, and our youngests' toddler beds (modified cribs) we'll give to the local pregnancy resource center. All my gardening supplies went to a friend who already gardens and plans to retire locally. We've downsized our games to the ones we actually play.
- Given the ages and grades of my children (currently preschool, 1st, 8th and 9th), I will need to bring the curriculum for teaching K through 4th grades and 9th through 12th grades. I own all of the high school resources already, and some of the elementary books I plan to use. I can buy curriculum once we get there, because our address will be an APO. However, shipping takes longer, so I'll have to plan ahead. I haven't decided if I'll try to bring a few resources in my suitcase to begin our August 2020 school year, in case we're ready to start before our shipment of HHG (household goods) arrives.
- We have already made appointments with our primary care doctors to be sure everything is in order for our overseas screening.
- We'll be given "no fee" military passports which are good to get us to Okinawa, but we'll have to also buy Tourist passports for travel to or through any other country.
- Our oldest child currently plans to stay behind to begin college. We have dozens of family and friends ready and willing to support her in our absence. I'm grieving the distance we'll be and the lack of involvement I'll be able to have, but so grateful for others who have offered to help with whatever she needs.
- I'm on the lookout for a good deal on suitcases, possibly from a thrift store, because I expect we'll fly with our allowed 2 per person, which equals 12 suitcases. We own 2 full-sized suitcases, and the other 5 are small. We'll want to bring as much as we can because it will be 1-2 months before we have a house and our belongings.
- I'm also on the lookout for a new ball gown, because Army balls are a thing, and I need a new one, and I'm not sure I'll find what I need in Japan. And a friend advised me to be sure I have shoes that are easy to slip on and off, because Japanese custom is to remove your shoes before entering a building.
I was talking with someone a few days ago, and she said, "It sounds like you're in upheaval". That's a great word. Lots of stuff needs to be sorted, and many plans need to be made. But I know the next steps to take, and I've moved enough times that I am at peace. I know that stuff is just stuff, we'll get everything prepared as best we can, and we'll enjoy Okinawa when we get there, so it will all be worth it.
After 14 1/2 years of Army life, we expect moves to happen every few years, and we knew this one was coming. We just didn't see this location coming! We received word this month that Summer 2020, we'll be moving from Oklahoma to Okinawa, Japan!
My first reaction was one of huge surprise, followed by concern, followed by excitement mixed with anxiety. The way I deal with anxiety is to gather more information. So for the past two weeks, we've been gathering information. Here's some of what we have learned so far:
- We're going to have to store or sell our cars, because it's not financially wise to ship a car to Japan. They drive on the other side of the road, the Japanese inspection process is picky and hard to pass with cars made for America, and we will be able to buy a used vehicle from other military families once we arrive. This is a huge bummer as my husband has a sporty car he loves (Honda S2000) and has put a lot of time and work into keeping up, and we had expected to own it for years to come. My van, a 2016 Honda Odyssey, was just purchased a year ago when our old 2006 Odyssey bit the dust. However, it's a great time to sell an S2000, as demand for this car no longer being produced is rising, and I already have had 5 people express interest in buying our van.
- We are only allowed to bring 25% of the weight allowance for my husband's rank. Everything we usually move with is always under our weight allowance. But now we'll need to leave most of our belongings in storage. The military will give us all the furniture and appliances we need once we arrive and have a house. So I'm thinking we will bring our own master bed, and a few small bookshelves (because homeschool), but leave all the rest of our furniture in the US in storage. I'm making mental lists as I look around my house as to whether it will go with us or be put in storage.
- Okinawa is almost tropical! It sits just a little way north of the Tropic of Cancer, so it's not in the tropic zone, but it's close. We had been stationed in Hawaii 2006-2009, so we know what that's like. We hear the heat is a little less bearable in summer because, unlike Hawaii, there aren't the breezes blowing. Okinawa is humid. I prefer humidity over dry air, so I expect to enjoy it. My skin and hair are happier with humidity.
- Three years from now, our children will outgrow many of the things we own. So unless they are moving with us, I don't intend to store them. Some of the sizes of winter clothes and outerwear for playing in the snow can be sold/donated. Also some of our books and toys have already been given away with this move in mind. If we won't need it in 3 years, I don't want to store it.
- We're going to have to decide whether or not to store or sell some other items, such as our ride-on mower, and our washer and dryer, and even my piano. We aren't sure they'd still work after 3 years in storage, which isn't required to be climate controlled, so damage and deterioration is possible. With that in mind, it makes better sense to sell them, and buy replacements when we return.
- Christmas decor is worth bringing, as it is hard to find in Japan. So my little artificial tree that I was thinking about replacing with a bigger one next year is actually perfect for the next 3 Christmases in Japan where we hear housing is small. Everything else Christmas I own has already been limited to 2 plastic bins for our last several years. Still, I'm thinking I'll reduce it to 1 bin to bring, 1 bin to store.
- In general, I'm enjoying the motivation to purge excess belongings. I've already sold and given away several things, and I'm finding more and more to unload as we go. I'm working on using up lotions and soaps, cleaners and batteries, and have committed to only buying what we'll use before we move. I find that if I know a place or a person that can benefit from my donation, I'm more ready to part with it. Several books went to a Christian school, babyproofing things go to new moms, more books going to a missionary retreat house, some of our toys were re-gifted to nieces and nephews, and our youngests' toddler beds (modified cribs) we'll give to the local pregnancy resource center. All my gardening supplies went to a friend who already gardens and plans to retire locally. We've downsized our games to the ones we actually play.
- Given the ages and grades of my children (currently preschool, 1st, 8th and 9th), I will need to bring the curriculum for teaching K through 4th grades and 9th through 12th grades. I own all of the high school resources already, and some of the elementary books I plan to use. I can buy curriculum once we get there, because our address will be an APO. However, shipping takes longer, so I'll have to plan ahead. I haven't decided if I'll try to bring a few resources in my suitcase to begin our August 2020 school year, in case we're ready to start before our shipment of HHG (household goods) arrives.
- We have already made appointments with our primary care doctors to be sure everything is in order for our overseas screening.
- We'll be given "no fee" military passports which are good to get us to Okinawa, but we'll have to also buy Tourist passports for travel to or through any other country.
- Our oldest child currently plans to stay behind to begin college. We have dozens of family and friends ready and willing to support her in our absence. I'm grieving the distance we'll be and the lack of involvement I'll be able to have, but so grateful for others who have offered to help with whatever she needs.
- I'm on the lookout for a good deal on suitcases, possibly from a thrift store, because I expect we'll fly with our allowed 2 per person, which equals 12 suitcases. We own 2 full-sized suitcases, and the other 5 are small. We'll want to bring as much as we can because it will be 1-2 months before we have a house and our belongings.
- I'm also on the lookout for a new ball gown, because Army balls are a thing, and I need a new one, and I'm not sure I'll find what I need in Japan. And a friend advised me to be sure I have shoes that are easy to slip on and off, because Japanese custom is to remove your shoes before entering a building.
I was talking with someone a few days ago, and she said, "It sounds like you're in upheaval". That's a great word. Lots of stuff needs to be sorted, and many plans need to be made. But I know the next steps to take, and I've moved enough times that I am at peace. I know that stuff is just stuff, we'll get everything prepared as best we can, and we'll enjoy Okinawa when we get there, so it will all be worth it.
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