Thanksgiving and the end of November are this week. Next month will hopefully be the last month my husband puts on his uniform. We plan to say goodbye to active duty Navy life in June 2026. During that 23-year journey through military life, it has been full of challenges, triumphs, and unexpected growth, as a result of 15 relocations. If you’ve followed my articles, these are stories I have been sharing with you. As we prepare for this next chapter, I’m excited to begin channeling that experience into post-retirement plans, including expanding my consulting services and Homefront Hustle, a mentorship program empowering other entrepreneurs.

Our story began in 2002, fresh out of college, with our first move to Florida. I quickly learned the realities of military spouse life: frequent PCS moves, every year and a half, made career stability impossible. I relied on staffing agencies and Craigslist for temporary roles. By 2004, in Hawaii, I registered a dance studio business, tapping into my lifelong passion for dance, though deployments shifted priorities. In 2007, back on the mainland, I launched an e-commerce PC business and joined the Military Spouse Business Association (MSBA), volunteering and rising to Operations Director. That role ignited my advocacy fire, leading to my involvement in championing the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA). Founding a Facebook coalition, I rallied thousands to address residency barriers for taxes and voting amid constant moves. MSRRA was signed into law on Veterans Day 2009 but it has evolved through bipartisan amendments to offer even broader protections.

Volunteering sustained me through unemployment gaps. From supporting military spouse entrepreneurs via MSBA to providing financial education as an AmeriCorps member with Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. These roles not only built skills but also helped navigate mental health challenges like anxiety during deployments. Connecting with Military OneSource for counseling was a lifeline, as was founding “Championing for Military Spouse Employment” on Facebook to push for better opportunities for military spouse employment.

From 2021 to 2023 there was additional frustration with employment and then unemployment overseas. A social media post in 2023 sparked volunteering that led to a client which evolved into referrals and a client list in 2024 upon returning stateside. Earlier this year, I utilized SCORE Mentors to refine ideas into Homefront Hustle, addressing the persistent 23% unemployment rate (Blue Star Families 2024 survey) with 13 weeks of one-on-one mentorship on business basics, client management, branding, and scaling.

Traditions grounded me amid the “Semper Gumby” flexibility: daily “Good Morning, Sunshine!” greetings, backyard gatherings with our fur baby Angel (who passed in 2020), and marriage enrichments every five years. We’ve explored other branches beyond Navy to include the Army, NATO, and Space Force. We have also experienced our share of losses, family and colleagues. Minimalism became our ally, shipping just 4500 lbs in our last move, while a five-month emergency fund buffered surprises like rental repairs.

Now, as retirement approaches, the process mirrors military unpredictability: TAP classes, SkillBridge hurdles, and admin delays. As we approach post-retirement, I will be focusing on professional development to continue to bring value to my clients and growing Homefront Hustle. I am determined to make an impact and support others with their goals, while working to reduce the military spouse unemployment rate. I look forward to reconnecting with family, establishing long roots, and appreciating that we can now make the decisions on where we go and what we do.

Originally published on LinkedIn on November 24, 2025. [Read it here]