Groton

Trailing spouses are forced to encounter change more than the average human, often without much support. In my 26 years as a Navy wife, my family has experienced 10 house moves, including five different states and one overseas tour. Throughout this adventure, I’ve continued prioritizing my professional advancement as a creative marketing professional. In the past, pursuing your own career dreams hasn’t been expected of military wives — but times are changing and I hope sharing my story publicly for the first time inspires others to never give up on their dreams.

I was a fiercely independent child. Never liked telling my parents what I planned to do next, or even goodnight. It wasn’t that I liked to keep people guessing, but I would do anything to avoid dependence or predictability. While some dreamed of a wedding and kids, my goals were simple: be self-sufficient and travel to beautiful places. 

So, when I met my husband in college, a rebellious neighbor who wore a red bandana like Axl Rose yet planned to enlist in the U.S. Navy after graduation, how could I resist? Neither of us came from military families; his plan sounded like an incredible adventure. Looking back now, 26 years later, I clearly had no clue what I was getting myself into!