Monday, December 10, 2012

On Moving All Over the Country

If you're new to this blog, you may have missed the part where my husband switched airline jobs almost two years ago. His job change is the reason we moved from Colorado to Florida in the first place, and this month we're moving again. This time, thankfully, it's only an in-state move as opposed to a cross country move. This month we'll say goodbye to the Tampa area and hello to Orlando. Even though we're only facing a short-distance move, we'll still need to learn a new area, make new friends, and settle into a new place. We are looking forward to the move and the changes it will bring though.


My husband was recently awarded a base change, hence the reason for our upcoming move. (Forgive me if you're reading this and already understand the workings of an airline). Many pilots live near, or in, their base. Some don't. The pilots who don't live in base commute (sometimes cross-country) to their base for work. The airline my husband currently works for doesn't have very commutable schedules, so we opted to live in his base as opposed to having him commute cross-country. If he commuted, there's a good chance I'd only see him a few days a month. For that reason, the airline basically dictates where we can live right now, because living across the country from each other isn't really an option for us. I often wish it was more simple than this, but it's not. We're attempting to make the best of what the airline gives us, so we're moving.


We're moving with the hopes of my husband getting better seniority, schedules, hours, and options. A pilot's seniority (their employee number) basically determines their quality of life. Typically the earlier you were hired and longer you've worked for an airline, the better your seniority number. Everything from being able to use your vacation time on certain dates to getting certain days off of work hinges on your seniority number. Switching bases is a slight gamble, but it's one we're thinking will pay off for us. We've thought about this move for quite some time, and things began falling into place for it to actually happen.


Just recently I was trying to count all of the moves I've had in my life, and it's quite a lot. I technically moved at least once a year during college, and I usually lived in a new/different apartment each year. Counting each of those moves around campus, I've lived in over 12 different apartments, dorms, and houses by now. Moving doesn't necessarily get easier either. Not only is it tiring moving all of those heavy pieces of furniture and boxes, but starting over again in a new place can be a tough adjustment. I'm still not exactly sure where home is yet, and I still believe it's more a state of mind or a feeling than a physical location. We're learning to feel "at home" no matter where we happen to live.

13 comments:

  1. Congrats on the news! Moving is no fun... But at least it is for a good reason!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm sure moving can be stressful and tough but it is also exciting. To celebrate y'all need to visit Discovery Cove...it's in Orlando. I think you even commented on my post about Discovery Cove. It is fate! I'm so jealous you have that place in your back yard. It is my favorite place ever LOL :))

    ReplyDelete
  3. As a military wife, I can totally relate to the whole moving around quite often thing. I wish you two the best of luck on your next chapter, and can't wait to see all that it offers you both! :)

    p.s. Happy Monday girl!

    ReplyDelete
  4. As long as the two of your are together, you are home! I've learned that too. :)

    Love that shot of the shuttle tram!
    Good luck, Ash. xo

    ReplyDelete
  5. good luck with the move! and you are right despite having moved frequently in my life it never gets easier either

    ReplyDelete
  6. Big things are happening! Congrats on the move. I hope the seniority works well. It's the same in teaching. You are stuck at the bottom and in some cases, depending on the school, if you stick around you might move up quick. Or, in other cases, you practically have to wait for the whole staff to retire. So I hear you on needing to make moves to help with seniority. ;) So excited for the two of you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Good luck on your move! I guess it's all about how you face the situation... You'll have the chance to experience new places together, meet new people... For example, we bought a house before we got married, so we didn't get the chance to adventure and see other places. Although I love California, I kind of wish we were not "stuck" here and had the opportunity to live in other states, even if just for a little while :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congrats on the move! John liked the guys in SFB a lot, it looks like he'll be more senior too :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can totally sympathize with the constant moving. I've moved 12 times in as many years and it's exhausting. In a way, it almost leaves you feeling root-less, like nowhere is truly home and yet everywhere is home all at the same time. I hope this move works out well for you guys!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Welcome to Orlando! When you're ready shoot me an email with the kind of things you like to do for fun and I'll point you in the direction of where to go (seeing as I've lived here since I was... Okay, the age isn't important let's just say a very, very long time. ) :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. i love the idea of home being more a state of mind than a place. i haven't moved as much as you have, but moving states away from my family this year has been a challenge. and i miss the days when making friends was so simple - especially in college.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.