As a military spouse, I have found that hobbies are more than just a way to pass time–they are grounding, bring joy, connection, and a sense of home no matter where the military takes us. In previous reflections, I have shared my love for dance, scrapbooking, and crochet. Among these, crochet has been my most enduring hobby, cherished for relaxing me, having a rewarding outcome, and being mobile-friendly.

Dance has been a part of my life since I was three, when I first stepped into a dance studio. For nearly three decades, I competed and performed, carrying my passion through multiple states as a military spouse. In an early entrepreneurial venture, I pursued a dream by registering a dance studio in Hawaii, hoping to teach in the evenings. Though the dream remained unrealized beyond paperwork, I am grateful for the studios and teams that welcomed me during our frequent relocations. By age 40, I parted with my dance shoes and costumes, but the memories of those experiences remain a cherished part of our family’s journey.

While dance was a passion, I brought into our military life, scrapbooking was a gift from the military community. I discovered it through an invitation to a Creative Memories party hosted by a fellow military spouse. That first little scrapbook sparked a love for preserving memories in a tangible, creative way. For years, I filled books with photos, decorative paper, ribbons, and stickers, capturing our childhood, courtship, marriage, and military adventures. However, as our moves became frequent and our photos shifted to digital cloud storage, the weight of scrapbooking supplies became impractical. When we moved overseas, I said goodbye to the last of my supplies, but those memories are not lost. 

Crocheting, however, has been the hobby that has stayed with me the longest. My mom and grandmother taught me the basics, but it wasn’t until I volunteered with the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society that I truly fell in love with it. Delivering yarn to a group crafting baby blankets, I joined their circle and learned new techniques while forming meaningful connections. For years, I crocheted blankets for their Budget for Baby classes, finding joy in giving back to the community. This inspired me to create blankets for family and friends, starting with one for my niece, followed by gifts for siblings and a close friend.

Currently, I have four crochet projects in progress. Three are blankets I plan to gift, and the fourth is a special Halloween-themed crochet-along I am working on with my sister and sister-in-law. Each week, we will receive a new piece of the pattern, making it a fun, shared experience despite the miles between us. I do have a modest yarn collection–mostly bought on clearance–it is far from a craft room takeover!

Hobbies like crocheting have been a mobile-friendly anchor in the military lifestyle, offering some creativity and connection wherever we go. What hobbies excite you? Which ones travel well? I would love to hear about your passions that keep you grounded, no matter where your journey takes you.

Originally published on LinkedIn on August 4, 2025. [Read it here]