The countdown is officially on… again.
We have orders… — Fort Carson, Colorado. The land of endless mountain views, unpredictable weather, and, if social media is correct, more hiking trails than Starbucks.
And while I’m genuinely excited for this new adventure, there’s something uniquely exhausting about that in-between PCS phase — where the clock is ticking, but you’re not quite ready to start bubble-wrapping your life just yet.
Seven months sounds like plenty of time… until it’s not. One minute you’re casually scrolling Zillow, the next you’re panic-Googling “best high schools near Fort Carson,” and “is altitude sickness real?”
It’s that weird limbo where everything feels both far away and right around the corner. You can’t relax, but you also can’t do much yet — because military timelines are like toddlers: unpredictable and always in charge.
📦 The Art of Starting Over (Again)
If you know, you know.
Every move starts the same way — excitement, chaos, denial, and an extra amount of coffee. Then comes the realization that you’re about to start your entire life over again.
You’d think after twenty years of military life I’d be used to it, but each PCS hits differently. I’ve learned that “starting over” doesn’t mean erasing who you were at the last duty station. It means packing those lessons, friendships, and memories into the moving truck right alongside you.
Fort Carson will be a whole new world—new faces, new routines, and brand-new adventures. GPS will become my best friend for at least the first six months, and I’ll probably be blowing up the Fort Carson spouses groups asking where to find the best restaurants, dentist, grocery store, coffee shop, and ice cream spot. It’s a new chapter in our military lives, and honestly, I’m hoping it’s the last one in this two-decade-long journey.
🌄 Finding the Joy in the Countdown
Garden of the Gods — one of the many reasons to be excited about Fort Carson life.
Military life has taught me that “home” isn’t a place — it’s a mindset. It’s family dinners on paper plates, laughter echoing through empty rooms, and the quiet confidence of knowing that no matter where the Army sends us, we’ll be ok.
So as we count down to Fort Carson, I’m choosing to focus less on the stress and more on the possibilities — the fresh start, the new memories, the chance to reinvent what “home” looks like once again.
Every PCS is proof that we can do hard things—over and over again—with a little grace, a lot of humor, and an unhealthy amount of coffee.
✈️ Here’s to the Next Adventure
Next stop: Colorado Springs
The hardest part of military life is saying goodbye. This has been the longest we’ve lived anywhere, and we’ve become woven into the fabric of North Carolina. I know I’ve made it clear more than once that I don’t exactly love this state—but the friends I’ve made here have been amazing. It’ll be hard to leave them behind, but as I’ve learned time and time again in this life, it’s never really goodbye—it’s “see you later.” Our world is small, and no matter where we land, I’ve realized my path will always find its way back to people from my past. It’s a small blessing the universe somehow always grants us.
So here’s to the countdown—the calm before the storm, the messy middle, and the endless “lasts” we experience with the ones we’re leaving behind. Each move reminds me that military life is equal parts heartbreak and hope. We say goodbye to the comfort of what we know, only to find unexpected friendships and strength waiting on the other side. If you’ve ever faced a PCS, you know the weight of those final weeks—the packing, the tears, the mental tug-of-war between excitement and fear. The North Carolina chapter is coming to a close, and a new one is waiting to be written in Colorado.
💬 Your Turn: What’s been the hardest part of your PCS journey—and what unexpected blessings came from it? Share your story in the comments below or connect with me on Instagram @emilymcm2703. Let’s remind each other that even in the chaos of change, we’re never truly alone.
— Follow our journey on Instagram!
About the Author:
Emily M is the author of Hurry Up and Wait: Confessions of a Military Spouse—a humorous and heartfelt look at the unpredictable journey of military family life. A proud Army wife of over twenty years, Emily writes about love, resilience, and the art of finding yourself in a life of constant change. When she’s not writing, she’s juggling mom life, coffee refills, and her latest PCS countdown. Follow Emily on instagram @emilymcm2703