When we decided to keep on keeping on with the military life, I made a big deal out of getting off of the West Coast. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy California. But I've enjoyed California my entire life up until February of this year, with the exception of a few vacations that took me away from it.

I mean, if we're going to go through the hassle of living the military life, I may as well see someplace other than the state where I was born and raised. So, despite Texas' reputation, I was partially excited to come here. Just because it was something different - a new experience and an adventure.

We filled out Mark's Dream Sheet very carefully over the weekend, shooting for the East Coast. Originally we'd hoped for Japan, but I did some research and had the pants scared off me about it, and decided to hope for someplace else.

We listed the Carolinas as our preferred duty stations.

All was going fine, until yesterday when Mark came home and said that the monitor was going to select one of the 3 Marines in his class to fill a vacancy at 29 Palms if nobody volunteered.

If you know anything about 29 Palms, you know that nobody in their right mind volunteered. Which means we have about a 33% chance of being sent there. Of all the duty stations available for us in this world, 29 Palms is probably the one I want the least.

1. It is in California. I'm trying to get AWAY from California. And if we wind up there I feel like it will be totally ironic. We spent all this time trying so hard to stay in California, and in our comfort zone, and then when we are finally trying to leave, they send us right back against our will... That just sucks.
2. It is in the middle of NO WHERE. I mean that quite literally. If we were going to get stationed in California again, I'd be happy at Camp Pendleton. I love Camp Pendleton. I'd be content in San Diego. But to send me to 29 Palms is... Well, cruel.
3. 29 Palms is hot. Not hot like sexy. Hot like it's in the middle of a freaking desert, and it gets to well over 100 degrees in the summer.

Now, if we wind up in 29 Palms, it obviously won't be the end of the world. We will be together and we'll make it work. But I'd really rather not go there. As with all things military related, I believe and count on nothing until it happens. But on the same note, I am trying to mentally prepare myself for the worst case scenario.