This month I am saying a big “hello” to everyone from the land of Lincoln, AKA Illinois, on our new adventure.

We moved here at the end of September. So far, things are going well, although living on an Air Force base has been a big adjustment. For one, it is about five times smaller than Joint Base Lewis McChord (maybe even more)! There is probably two miles between the main gate and the gate at the end of the base. There is only one shoppette, which also triples as the Class Six and Firestone. The BX and the commissary share a parking lot, and in general, it’s just tiny!

Honestly, I find it somewhat mind boggling, but I appreciate that we’re close to cities with lots and lots of things I was missing in the Pacific Northwest (Steak n Shakes everywhere!). And it’s really nice to be back in the midwest and for it to feel a little more like home.

So far unpacking has been fairly slow going. We have had to accommodate some of our things in a more organized way to make up for losing some storage space, especially in our kitchen. I find myself trying very hard to be more organized, and now that we have a little one we have to work on keeping up with even the smallest of messes. He loves to put just about everything he can get his tiny little fingers on into his mouth. While I’m not surprised, since that is what babies do, it keeps me on my toes.

The St. Louis Arch from the highway.

We have had a chance to explore St. Louis some. The zoo is wonderful. It is free (although you do have to pay for parking), and it has lots to see. We weren’t able to see everything in one day, but I am definitely looking forward to going again! And if you’re ever in this part of the country, definitely make plans to visit!

I think St. Louis is pretty neat from what I have seen so far, but I definitely miss Seattle. I think the biggest differences are the sizes of each city, and how Seattle is more in your face when you get there. Being a major port city definitely makes a big difference. I hope that I will have the chance soon to see more of St. Louis and explore some of the unique things that it has to offer.

PCSing can definitely be a big challenge, but as I have said many times, wherever you are or end up it is always about what you make it. Though there are very tough duty stations (especially the more rural or middle-of-nowhere types), taking advantage of your surroundings is always important. I look forward to seeing where life will take us on this new adventure.

What do you find most challenging about PCSing? Sound off in the comments below!