Conundrum

First of all, thank you for your supportive comments on my last post. I know that these feelings are normal, and they make sense, but hearing your validation helps tame the crazy.

On to my conundrum. As we all know, the economy leaves something to be desired lately. For the last couple years, I've been a stay at home wife and mother. I'm really passionate, and interested in photography, and would love to pursue that as a career. I'd like to take some classes, invest in some equipment, and make this dream a reality. I'm actually trying to sign up for a workshop in April.

However, in just over two years, Stryker will be getting out of the Army. At least that's the plan. Once he's out, he's very serious about going back to school. So the question is, do I get a job at our next duty station in the field that I have my degree in so I'll have a little experience by the time Stryker gets out, thus leaving me making more money to support us, or do I keep on (selfishly?) pursuing the photography dream?

Stryker is very supportive, but it's hard being an adult! I know that it's probably smarter to get a job in my field, but I know it wouldn't make me as happy.

Hopefully after the workshop in April (if I get in), I will have a better idea. At least I have a few more months to stew over it. What to do, what to do?

This is the story of the hurricane...

I only got a few questions about the journey, but without further ado...

Did it go by faster than you thought it would? (Jenny)
Yes and no. My first reaction is yes, absolutely it went by faster than I thought it would. Fuzz has been such a joy and has kept me so busy that I haven't hardly had time to miss Stryker.

But.

When I look back on things that happened during the deployment, it seems like they happened a long, long time ago.

Did you get your BAH changed to where you lived or did it stay to the base he was stationed at? (Kati)
Our BAH stayed the same as it was for his duty station.

When does he come home? In 2 months or are they getting shortened too? (Sara)
They are not getting shortened. Boo. He will be home, at most, 2 weeks before the 15 month mark.

I have to admit, now that the end is near and I have to deal with all this moving stuff before I head back, I'm getting a little overwhelmed. So much to do, and so hard to do it when as soon as I pack something up, little Fuzz hands unpack it. Which leaves nap time and bed time, and I prefer to have those times be relaxation time, not work time!

I am seriously considering a moving company to pack for me after I saw how amazing it was when they packed our things in Hawaii. It.Was.Amazing. Three guys came in like a hurricane and had the whole house packed up and on the truck in 3 hours. However, it would save a lot of money for me to do it myself, especially since I'm not exactly sure of the cost since they charge by hour and I can pretty much guarantee if they are getting paid hourly, they aren't coming in like a hurricane.

What I learned today...

Before you have a child, buy stock in your favorite battery company.

I knew raising a child was expensive. I did not take into account the cost of batteries, and the fact that most toys use the big honkers.