A Relationship Based On Convenience

Looking back, our living situation was purely built on convenience. I had just finished uni and was starting a new job up north. He was based in Preston and living back at home as there wasn’t any accommodation available on camp. We both needed somewhere to live, we were still in the honeymoon stage. It worked.

In hindsight, I should have moved in to a house share. I was 21 years old, moving to a new city where I didn’t know anyone. Living in a house share would have helped me to meet new people, encouraged me to go out more and actually live my youth. Instead I lived up to my Grandma nickname, grew old before my time and settled down.

I know it sounds so unromantic and really negative but fast forward 6 months and my safety net and home life was gone. He got posted 3 ½ hours away (ON A GOOD RUN), I had no friends, no hobbies and hadn’t seen the inside of club since my graduation night. To top it off my uni friends who were on a 4 year course, were back in Nottingham living the high life, clogging up my news feed with photos of Ocean nights out and drunken socials. My love of independence was truly stretched.

Lesson 1 of military life learnt – make your own fun.

This was a hard one to learn. However hard it may be whether you’re living on camp or like me away from military life – you have to establish some kind of life for you. Their job my dictate your living situation but it can’t dominate everything about you. Join local clubs. Talk to the wacky next door neighbour. Bully your colleagues into submission and make them take you to the pub. Build yourself a life – no matter how temporary it may be – and you will thank yourself for it.

Slowly but surely I started to carve my own little world in Manchester. A failed attempt at netball training, a slightly creepy dog walking group and a LOT of meaningful pep talks from my young, free & single friends – I imposed myself on group of unsuspecting women. Together we make ‘Wine Club. .

Nobody wants to re-enact the opening scene of Bridget Jones’ Diary every night.

Military life can be lonely but even one solid friend or getting out 1 night a week to Weight Watchers or the Gym can be the difference between you being eaten by hole you have moulded yourself on the sofa and an easy life.

Lesson 1 of life in general – don’t just do things because they are easy

GL

- x -

#longdistance #militarylife #militarywife #longdistancerelationship #bridgetjones #wineclub #girlfriend #wife #singlelife #homealone