So the house is all packed up and the boxes are being moved out. Then we clean and leave.

The other night, the night before the morning when the packers were to arrive, we went to the new home of one of our old neighbours. It was located in this crazy little planned community that was once meant to be the homes of shoe factory workers. You know, about a millennium ago when things like shoes were actually made in North America.

So these neighbours were pretty great neighbours. They mowed our lawn for us and shoveled our shared driveway in the winter. We gave them a gift as thank you. The dinner they served us was awesome and the dog and the kids amusing. But overall I have to say I was bored. Half the night was consumed by military talk. That's the thing about being a military 'wife' living in government housing. That's all anyone talks about. At least it feels that way. Sure, the two of us talk about art, music, literature, technology, science, progress, philosophy. Things that matter, at least to me. But step out the front door and all of a sudden it's like no one has a personality.

Also I realized, in all these failed attempts at being social, that I fail because I am a leader. But everyone who's to talk to on the base already has a leader: that mythical beast the country. They do not need a social hierarchy since they already have one. Damn. The only way I can shine, socially, up in smoke.

At any rate at least we're moving to a larger city, where the major defining feature of it is not one's 'husband's' job. And I already have friends there. And his colleagues will be younger, and thus will not expect one to talk exclusive and unerring about 1) kids; 2) home; 3) career; or 4) some other damn boring adult bullshit.

Also that frog from the picture wound up dead on the back walk. Damn birds.

On being an airforce "wife"

So, we're moving. The first in a long line of moves. Right now, however, I have nothing to do despite the fact that it's happening in less than a week. We're getting movers and so we can just keep the house as it is. Eventually we'll have to do things like unplug the TV and the computer. But it is surreal to me since I've lived in eight different places in the past seven years, and every time I've had to do the packing myself.

So anyways he went out to get all the paperwork done and I've worked on my novel and poked around on pinterest and did the dishes. So I'm done until he comes by in an hour and we have an appointment to get a block heater put on the car. Because when you're moving to Winterpeg, Manisnowba you need a block heater on your car so it'll actually start in the winter. Man, it's going to be a long year. Apparently I'm also supposed to get one of those hideous down coats that reach one's ankle. Fun.

The craziest thing about this move is that because we are and are going to be living in military housing, our house is going to be exactly the same. Can you imagine moving across the country only to settle into the exact same model house you had before? Weird!

We still haven't found out whether we'll be allowed to go through the states. If we have to go through Canada it's going to be five days of wilderness and tricky driving. If we go through the states it's going to be like, hey -- tour of the big cities of the Midwest! And lovely cheap prices and probably more pet-friendly hotels in which to stay with kitty. Travel with kitty = crazy adventure. I'll keep you posted.