On a positive, what do you love about the lifestyle?

[garnet1996]

For the last few weeks I have been working out all the changes in my mind. I'm actually really excited about some of the things. I will obviously miss my DH a lot when he is gone, but wanted to focus on the positives. What are yours?

Mine are (I think anyway, I'll let you know in a few months!)
1. The chance to fall in love again every week.
2. It is easier to just clean up after my daughter and myself.
3. I eat better and get more exercise on my own.
4. I get the remote!!

Interested to hear your thoughts!

[OnCloud9]

Here are mine (although my DH doesn't have many overnights...but here it goes)

1. I love "Change" in General. So the fact that we can pick up and move to a new base is exciting for me. Of course, we don't have children and that may change once we do.
2. My husband is a picky eater so I don't stress a lot about cooking when he is gone.
3) That no matter where ever we move, I will still be a few hours away from my family (via flight benefits)
4) No fighting over the remote or computer while he is away.
5) We could go to the movies during the Middle of week, while people are working and the kids are at school and be the only two people in the theatre. Gotta Love it!

If I think of more, I will add!

[jr_lenz]

1. it gives me the time to work on my hobbies
2. it forces me to have strong relationship with my girlfriends, which is the most important thing a girl can have!
3. you are forced to have better communication...silent treatment doesn't work, when they are 1000 miles away!!!
4. it was my husband's dream to fly, and to be the suport system that allows him to follow his dream is an amazing thing to me.

[ASLhands]

This is still new for me but here is my list:
1. I have something to look forward to when he is coming home. It is fun to feel excited and look forward to something in the monotonious (sp?) daily grind
2. The time we spend together when he is home is GREAT! When he was home every night, it was like we went about our own routines and were too tired to talk or go out
3. I feel like he values me much more since he has to be on his own when he is gone.
4. There is something strangly fun about emailing eachother about our day or getting to talk and listen on the phone when he is gone. Even though he is far away, I feel like we are connecting more than we ever have.

That's all I could think of for now. I really like this thread. It was a good idea

[garnet1996]

Thanks! These are some great points! Makes me feel even better about DH and I making the decision to take the big paycut and take this life!

[ZachsFlyGirlie]

This does look like fun, so I am going to have to participate.

1. You get to fly!! Everytime we go get his cesna out of the hangar I get chills!. It is so cool to just go get in that plane whenever we want and go explore. The view is amazing and there is nothing like having your own personal pilot.

2. That first kiss and hug when he gets home after being away for awhile. That always make the wait worthwhile.

3. It does keep you motivated to do things you otherwise wouldn't do if he was home often. I can study without distractions, meet my girlfriends for dinner, have alone time, use all the hot water, hog the bed!

4. Did I mention how hot those boys look when they are behind the controls of an airplaine... or the uniform... who agrees with me there?

5. He is not in Iraq or off fighting war. He may be gone for days at time but nothing compares to what it would be like for military wives. I cannot imagine how they must feel. I always try to keep that in mind when I'm missing my DH and start to feel sorry for myself.

[Kristie]

mine are relatively simple...

1) the house stays a hell of a lot cleaner and there's less pickup for me to do!!
2) Getting the "Me" time i need...or KITTY time with the cats....or "Margarita Monday" with the girls
3) Every single month is different.. different schedule, different commute time, different EVERYTHING... really, not much stagnates during any one month
4) Just being able to take care of errands or miscellaneous stops at any time
5) Being able to watch my shows and/or soaps
6) Getting my "at home" work done (pay bills, websites etc)
7) Travel benefits, of course!!
8) Phone calls everyday to talk or say hi or just hear each others voices....
9) I get to eat what I want...I can eat as much tofu as i want when i want.. hahaha *evil laff* (dh doesn't like tofu that much)


and finally

10) Falling in love on a weekly basis... i LOVE that extra time and attention and i LOVE the fact that after 5 years of marriage, 8 years of dating, i still miss him so much every single day...

I guess one final staple would be to see a happy smile on his face when he talks flying, even tho he says he gets tired of it... at least i know he's relatively happy in his career and that makes me feel good about supporting his butt...

Did I mention how hot those boys look when they are behind the controls of an airplaine... or the uniform... who agrees with me there?

I do!!! also about spreading out the bed.. forgot that's also a biggie for me!

[MQAAord]

Let's see:

-I get to sprawl in the bed
-I can go to bed whenever I choose
-I can get in my bathroom in the morning and not have to creep around being quiet
-I can do laundry and leave the laundry baskets in the laundry room and not have him complaining & tripping over them
-I don't have to try to keep the kids out of the office (that room stays closed up when he's gone)
-I don't have to cook 'real' meals
-My evenings are free for me to do whatever the heck I damn well please
-I don't have to watch Fox news or sports on TV (except football, I love football)


(I love being an airline wife )

[Kristie]

I can do laundry and leave the laundry baskets in the laundry room and not have him complaining & tripping over them

ummm wouldn't you always leave the laundry baskets in the laundry room?

[Amanda]

Gosh I can even add anything! You all petty much summed it up for me! I don't complain much about Nick's profession. There is a lot to love about it.
My new flight benefits are starting soon and I can't wait!