The bid season (August - November, if you're lucky, the year before an assignment ends) is a horrible time in the life of a Foreign Service Officer. As we've said before ... we *have* a permanent job - why do we have to hunt for one? The peaks and valleys of hearing something promising (or discouraging!) from post or office can be nerve wracking. The toll on the personal side is just as worse. I hear parents chatting about the third grade soccer team - the last year before the boys split between recreational and travel. I have no idea if Wm will be on his team next year. And, fourth grade, forget about - way too far off! I've put off finding anything for Patch (he's variously asked about swimming, soccer and gymnastics), questioning if it is worth it to get started on something he might not be able to follow through on. I did decide this year, though, that we could probably do piano in the next city, so at least that was one decision I could take.
What about clothing? Another winter is coming ... and my clothes are horribly out of date. But, if we go some place warm, I won't wear them for years, and they'll fall out of style. We could end up somewhere cold (doubtful), and they might not be warm enough. Or, we could be another two years in DC and I'd be happy I spent the money. My prediction? Inertia will win and I won't invest. I posted before about wanting new furniture for our living room and bedroom, and how knowing we might move, possibly as early as June 2015, has stopped me from taking any action on that front. Today, I decided I needed to do something to make myself feel settled and focus on the present, since I've been dwelling too much on post-June 2015 scenarios. Cathartic response? Emptying two jumbled display cases (we quickly needed breakable things out of boxes and out of reach of little hands) and thoughtfully arranging them. Results pretty good, but it's still a long way until November and that elusive next assignment.
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