We have news! Nothing monumental, just an update. It's actually old news - our families have known for about a month that ...
We're staying in Japan! It's a long story, but in January Curt will transfer to Seventh Fleet Staff. This will be his third (count 'em, THREE) command out of Yokosuka and will make for five and a half years of forward deployed sea duty.
Phew. That's a lot.
When you're in the Navy, you dream of orders time. You get anxious to see your (or your husband's) slate - a list of the jobs available. You then talk, you discuss, you weigh pros and cons, and you let yourself dream a little. Then you submit preferences and wait about a month to hear where you'll be going! Of course, things are subject to change until you board the plane to said place, but it's some definition.
Every Navy spouse dreams of it being that simple. You hear other wives talking about the craziness of getting orders, of being told you have to be somewhere in a month's time, of being sent somewhere completely random, or being strung along for a month or longer, not knowing where on earth you'll be sent or when.
And you think to yourself, Pfft, that'll never happen to us!
Never, ever think that. Because then it will. Heh heh.
Neither time we've been awaiting orders has there been much simplicity. The first time we were expecting orders, we wanted to stay in Yokosuka, were told we couldn't stay with the same command, prepared our hearts on going somewhere else, and then ended up getting orders to stay in Yokosuka with a different command. I cried. Yes, I cried even though we got the thing we initially wanted. Because I was trying to prepare myself for what I thought was coming. When something else entirely came, I wasn't ready for it.
We initially didn't want to stay out here for a third tour, but Big Navy asked us to think again. Ha. Instead of saying no a second time, we made our concerns known. One of those concerns was being far from family for longer. We currently live 8000 miles from our families and have for over two-and-a-half years. Tacking on another year is strenuous. So we bargained for OHARP (Officer Home Area Recruiting Program). Basically, the Navy will give us short-term, two month orders to Minnesota so we can spend some time with our families before we spend another year out here. Good consolation.
The other concern was moving on base. We love love love our house. We hate it for kids. I spend my days running up and down stairs with an infant. If we were to stay in this house, it would not only be challenging to nurture a growing toddler, but it would inhibit any family growth. It would be unnecessarily challenging and potentially unsafe to have two kids in this kind of a house. So as soon as we have official orders, we'll make a move on base into a two bedroom apartment with no stairs and an American style washing machine. Very important with cloth diapering.
We're happy with that decision, but I find myself already mourning moving out of our house! I can't have my cake and eat it too, and it's definitely more important to focus on the quality of (and my ability to maintain sanity during!) our daily life more than our enjoyment of our neighborhood, our patio and BBQs, and quick access to central Yokosuka. Our neighborhood is so so so great. We live close to base, but in Japan! I walk out my door and have the choice of endless coffee shops, two malls, and some great parks. It has character. It's idyllic.
I was appreciating our neighborhood the other day, and decided to walk around and take some photos. Here are some of the quirks of our neighborhood, the tidbits that make up the wonderful whole. Do keep in mind that I had an infant strapped to me while taking these photos, so they aren't amazing or anything.
Our bikes! Parked in our cute little patio.
USFJ = "United States Forces Japan"
This sign is to keep sailors in line. Yes, that's the kind of neighborhood we live in. ;)
Garbage goes here. Everyday, eight am!
Dobuita Street, the center hub of our neighborhood.
Neighborhood shrine.
Local kimono shop or something? I actually have no idea, but have appreciated these photos for the last two-and-a-half years. Hilarious!
Our chūhai stand of choice.
The owner is a chūhai guru but constantly shushes you to keep you from talking loudly (i.e., American) and disturbing the neighbors.
Mural of the bay.
For some silly reason, we pronounce this sign crazily every time we pass it, which is often.
"TOH-bah-CO!"
"Toh-BAAAH-co!"
"Tooo-ba-CCO!"
"TObaCCO!"
We're not quite sure how the weird sizing of the letters is best pronounced, and our speculation gets quite obnoxious.
Our local train station! And the reason Japan is so clean, right there in the middle and other acts just like it.
Sign denoting the neighborhood. Honch!
Nothing like a turtle carrying a Guinness. Good stuff.
Stop!
One of our favorite bars, New Texas.
Our favorite coffee shop, Musetto!
Gets better every time.
One of many Irish pubs in town. Weird.
Beautiful Catholic Church near base.
And the source of screaming, climbing, jumping, playing children as you enter Womble Gate.
Our flower shop of choice.
Our produce shop of choice. Yes!
I didn't say our neighborhood was classy ...
Karaoke ... mascot?
Every single time I walk by this machine, I wonder, oh I wonder, what the heck Bikkle is.
Sounds gross, but I'm going to have to try it.
And finally, our sweet little home! I call it Green Tea Cake, since the top floor looks like frosting. It will certainly be sad to move out of this place; it's been good to us for three years!
