So many times, especially in this day and age, a huge amount of our energy is focused on the “down” side of military life. There are countless deployments, extensions, issues with Tricare, etc. Add to that the stress of family life, running a household and working or going to school and you’ve got one heck of a heaping plate! Given all of this, sometimes it’s hard for us to think about all the good we still have. So, I present to you a list of all the wonderful things about being a military spouse:

1. The commissary – Some are better than others, but they all have great prices on many things. You can wind up saving several dollars on just one item. According to www.commissaries.com, members can save over 30% annually. They also have regular case lot sales where you can stock up on items for even cheaper.

2. Tricare – While I do have issues with several aspects of the Navy Healthcare System in particular (discussion best saved for another time!), the fact still remains that we have free healthcare. We have free healthcare and we have free prescriptions. That in itself is awesome! And, if you’re lucky, you’ll find those few gems of a doctor that truly take their jobs seriously.

3. Homecoming – Although homecoming follows a pretty sad and blah event, it has to be one of the single greatest things ever. You’ve waited months or even a year or more for your spouse to come home. You’ve endured things breaking, doing everything on your own, sad moments, happy moments, angry moments, all by yourself. There is no greater feeling than seeing your spouse after this long hiatus. It’s like falling in love all over again. It is the sweetest, purest, most blissful feeling ever. It simply can’t be described accurately.

4. Discounts – There is a vast number of discounts and freebies available to military families. You can get into theme parks for free, get discounted tickets to attractions and cultural events and travel for discounted rates. Many stores also offer a military discount; just ask!

5. Greater ability to see the world – As a military family you will move around quite often, possibly even overseas. You will be able to see and experience so many different things and cultures. Not only will you live in different areas, you will have the opportunity to possibly visit different areas of the world where your spouse is visiting.

It’s always a nice thing to reflect on what we do have as opposed to all the bad we experience. If nothing else, it helps dealing with the not-so-fun side of this life a little easier!