Balanced Re-Integration

So one thing on my mind a lot these days is how to re-integrate ourselves into our social circles back home. Anyone who has followed this blog for a while, has some knowledge that most of the hub's and my married life has been spent together here in Louisiana and that our separate families and friends have had limited exposure to the other half of our couple. Aka he has yet to meet a good chunk of my friends and family and vice versa. While we know that everyone back home is looking forward to getting more time with us, we also don't want to be overwhelmed by social obligations straight from the get go. There are quite a few things that we want to do for ourselves upon getting back and so while it may seem selfish to some, a good chunk of time may be spent initially just trying to get ourselves settled and do the things we've been wanting to do rather than jump straight back into how things were socially before relocating. We're going to want and need time to get settled and unpack, time to lesson plan and get my upcoming term in order, and time and space to take the trips to the coast, to the mountains, and the hub's week long hike that have been calling us throughout the last year.

In truth, the hub has really only been back in Oregon for maybe 60 days total throughout the last 5 years, and I personally think it's important for him to have some time to enjoy and process the change from the military back into a "regular" lifestyle. We also have gotten really good at being the other person's entertainment and social support, and while we definitely do hang out with other people, I don't know that we're as used to hanging out with a whole LOT of people nor used to having a steady stream of social engagements.  Now that being said, I'm sure we're going to re-integrate fine and I'm looking forward to being able to get together with family and my old coworkers and friends. It's going to be fun to participate in family parties, make the drive to see Granny on a regular basis, and help my gal plan her wedding---there are going to be a lot of perks to returning! But I also know that we're probably going to take some of the social integration at a slower pace than others.

We're not even back yet and the calendar is already spattered with things to attend throughout the next two months, so I don't think it's going to be that hard to keep busy and our minds a bit more engaged than they have been here. But I also am a strong proponent of having low key moments interspersed amongst those busier ones. Moments to plant, moments to play, moments to grade assignments, and moments to just relish being back in Oregon together lounging about alone in our rental home. A bit of re-integration balance is all it takes ;)