Do Something Anyway.

You’re trapped in some crappy place away from all your family and your best friends. There’s nothing to do. This place sucks!

Just kidding. You’ve found yourself at a duty station you don’t want to be at. This could be Hawaii, Alaska, Oklahoma or even Germany and Korea or more! It doesn’t matter where the place is. If you don’t want to be there, you are going to hate it.

Check that right now. Check that before you even sign the contract of service, wed a servicemember or other government contracted employee and agree to go along from place to place as a part of the job. Your attitude going in is everything.

Here’s an example. When we lived in Heidelberg, Germany for a couple years, I worked on post in banking and customer service. There are castles, concerts, clubs, restaurants, museums, walking paths, festivals, world famous art, cathedrals, markets, world history, amusement parks and MORE within an hour of those installations. This is a place other Americans save their entire lives to visit once for only two weeks. Being stationed in places like Heidelberg also puts a person within a couple hours of other countries with things of their own to discover!

You cannot find anything to do?

Every day at work as I helped people exchange currencies and explained the fuel ration system, I would listen to different dependents complaining about not having anything to do and being “bored.”

I was working that job so I had more money to do even more stuff. This whole mindset I observed in others has been, and remains, completely out of my comprehension.

I grew up poor. I wasn’t able to fly anywhere until I was 25 and that was for work related training. Living abroad, or other “exotic” locations had always been something on TV. My people never leave their hometown.

Over the years I have wondered why people were having such negative experiences in such interesting locations. Time has offered up a few insights on making the most of wherever you’re living. Especially if you have no idea what you're doing and that scares you.

It is normal for spouses to be attached to each other. It’s kind of the whole marital concept. So, it would be perfectly normal for any person to feel a little lost and intimidated at the idea of going out to do new things, in new places surrounded by a new language all on your own. To help with some of that, one of your first stops should be the MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation).

Getting started is as easy as walking into your MWR and introducing yourself. Ask about their programs and what there is to do off post, also known as “on the economy.” You can find everything from concert tickets, to equipment rentals (and how-to use the equipment classes) for seizing those outdoor recreational opportunities. Most places offer group excursions and escorted trips.

Hop on that organized trip! They are an affordable and low risk way to dip your toes into a new area or culture. You will have an opportunity to observe and ask questions and gain some confidence for heading out solo or with your spouse on their time off.

There is even an MWR with rentals on Hawai'i at the Kilauea Military Camp. It's literally on the volcano. Even if you aren't staying there, you can bowl a frame or play a game of pinball on an active volcano, you know, if riding the bike you're renting gets old. Access to the facility and Volcano National Park are FREE for veterans. *confirm before you go*

Most of the United States is built around the automobile. That is not the case for much of the rest of the planet where infrastructure predates cars. You will likely find a vast public transportation system that will get you to all kinds of new and interesting places.

The first time I took a bus in Germany was a disaster!

I’m from rural America. I had never actually taken a city bus before. I’m a charge-in and figure-it-out sort of person anyway, so I found a museum I wanted to see and the bus route I needed to take to get there.

Would it surprise anyone that I hopped on the correct route but going the wrong direction?

Not knowing where I was or what was happening, I just stayed on the bus. I rode that bus to the end of the route until the driver indicated to me that I had to get off. It was his lunch time.

There I was, unable to speak the language, sitting on the curb in what appeared to be a residential neighborhood outside of his empty bus when he returned some time later. I rode it back to where I had started my adventure many hours earlier.

I learned from this colossal failure. I also have a funny and relatable travel story that only cost me an entire day and the small bus fare. It has served me well in the years since.

Laugh at yourself and learn from your mistakes!

Other ways you can get around without a car are your two feet and bike riding. If you're at all observant, it won't take you long to notice how efficient bikes are for getting all over in other parts of the planet. You will see things from foot and on a bike you cannot experience from the road in a car. Be sure to learn the local customs so you are riding where you should be and alerting people you’re behind them.

Some places stateside may seem a bit harder to enjoy, but I assure you, every place has something to do. If your favorite thing to do is shop and you find yourself in Fairbanks, Alaska for the long winters. Be sure to check out their arts scene. Way up there in the frozen north they have a world class symphony and excellent theater performances. In that fascinating slice of our nation, you don't even have to dress up to go to the show. Carhartt's are welcome!

Take in some winter sports like dog mushing and hockey. The nachos at the Ice Dogs hockey games are the best maybe anywhere. I can only tell you that because I went to, and enjoyed myself at hockey games even though I still know nothing about hockey and cannot ice skate.

No matter where you go, there you are. Know yourself in order to prepare yourself to experience all of the incredible opportunities your family’s government entanglement presents to you. Attitude is everything.

Be sure to read some of my thoughts on pooping in the woods and how to locate and visit a classic swimming hole: https://vocal.media/authors/d-cu4u2h0zjp