This past week felt like the culmination of our nearly 23-year journey as a military family, packing boxes, celebrating farewells, and quietly realizing that retirement is no longer a distant plan, but next week’s reality. My husband’s total service spans even longer, with years before we married, but these decades together have shaped every move, deployment, and milestone.

The movers arrive this week, so we’ve been steadily packing the house. Deciding what to pack when you might spend the next six months across three different states, with wildly different weather, is its own puzzle. I’ve done this before, returning early from Belgium in 2023, but this will be my sailor’s first time navigating the civilian side of such uncertainty.

Amid the tupperware containers and bubble wrap, Christmas Eve brought a meaningful pause: my husband’s final command farewell. He’d reserved a private room at one of his favorite restaurants back in November, giving the team a proper send-off outside the office. On the way there, of course, we hit car trouble, delaying us just enough to arrive right on time instead of early. When we walked in, the staff hadn’t been notified of the reservation, but they quickly assured us the space was ours and ushered our group into a cozy private room.

As everyone settled and drink orders were taken, the speeches began. My husband spoke first, praising the command, the Navy element, and the Guardian Arena team for their extraordinary work during his tour. He thanked them for their understanding whenever he needed time to prepare for retirement. Then, representatives from each group took the floor to express their gratitude and present gifts: a heartfelt plaque from the command, contributions toward his custom retirement coin (which he immediately made sure every team member present had received), and, especially meaningful, a traditional Navy paddle, the first he has ever received.

Laughter filled the room when someone shared a lighthearted poem cataloging my sailor’s well-known “dislikes,” that he apparently wasn’t shy about voicing. As meals arrived, conversations flowed easily, connections deepening outside the workday. One by one, team members stopped to say goodbye again, grabbing a holiday cookie on their way out. After the last guests left, we gathered the gifts, checked for forgotten items, and headed home to unwrap and photograph each one, tangible tokens of the impact he’s made.

Later that evening, as we displayed the plaque and paddle, I felt deep gratitude for being able to attend this farewell. So often these events happen in secure spaces during work hours, inaccessible to spouses. This one felt inclusive and personal.

Christmas Day was slower and more intimate. We lingered in our festive pajamas, enjoyed a relaxed breakfast, and opened gifts. We paused to reflect on how truly blessed we are, and that in just one week, my husband will no longer report to a command. That realization settled over us quietly. Soon after, we began taking down decorations, cutting the tree to fit the trash bin before our final pickup.

Mother Nature seemed to mirror the bittersweet mood: our area received 5–6 inches of rain during the storms all week. I couldn’t help but think she, too, was sad to see him go.

This week marks our last days in military housing. Once the movers finish, we’ll head to Arizona for a couple of months. My husband will rest, reset, and complete his VA appointments, while I continue working and growing my services. A two-week vacation in February is already on the calendar, a chance to breathe before whatever comes next.

As we say goodbye to the last command, we carry forward not just boxes, but decades of memories, relationships, and lessons. Here’s to new beginnings rooted in gratitude.

What’s one farewell moment that stays with you?

Originally published on LinkedIn on December 29, 2025. [Read it here]