Who Says You Can't Go Home?

Hey, Bon Jovi asked it and I'm asking (well, really singing it)- who says you can't go home? Sure I've been "home" for just about a week but between the jet lag and family members dealing with work I've really just been at the house.

Today was the first day that I ventured into 93940 and 93943 territories. For you non 831 area experts those are the zip codes to Monterey proper and NPS. (Yeah, Del Rey Oaks too but really? They don't even know the real city boundaries over there so if you're not from here just hit the "I believe" button on what I said- Monterey and NPS.) It was this section of peninsula that had me freaking out last Friday night as my plane flew over them. Like I mentioned a few months back, it's in these zip codes I've done most of my living and the much needed change of scenery is what prompted me to take the Naples job.

Don't get me wrong- amazing people live and work here. People that I would love to scoop up during my tour and smuggle back to Italy. I mean, I easily have room for them, all of them, and I really do miss my group of girls at work. I mean, just how many married men can one possibly work with?

Oh wait. I'm off topic. And for the record, the guys I hang out with are fabulous and never cease to amaze me over our coffee breaks. (And no, they don't know where to find this blog so I'm not just saying that for their benefit- it's true.)

At any rate I think the purpose of this post tonight was to say just how fabulous it felt to walk straight into offices and buildings (with a ton of windows) and after a quick double take be greeted with a smile, a hug, and an excited "Katie!" Again, I find it hilarious that one of the things I wanted to leave behind is one of the highlights so far of being back here. Sigh. 

But you know what? It also reaffirmed that my decision to pick everything up was the right one for me. The lack of military friends and recent graduation reminded me that people leave here every 18-24 months. The fact that just about everyone was still in their same office that I left them in reminded me that there really wasn't a place for me to advance. The updates I heard from people included the same issues that we've been dealing with for ages...KFS...contracts...funding...

Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was my social network at NPS. Given the nature of our dungeons windowless offices and independent commands in Naples, it's going to take a little longer I guess but I can deal with that since I know I'm working for an amazing organization in the business of fixing ships (or fish-n-chips if that's what you hear late in the afternoon after a particularly stressful day). And besides, half the people I visited today asked when I was going to come back and be comptroller. Any idea how tempted I was to walk up to his office and tell him I was coming after his job? I refrained...need to keep those return rights for as long as I can...just in case!