We’ve moved a lot over the past 18 years. That’s just life in the military. My husband’s Army career has taken us to the mountains, near the ocean, and plenty of places in between. We’ve packed up our lives more times than I can count, and with each move, I’ve tried to make the best of it. I’ve tried to settle in, plant roots, even if they were temporary, and find the beauty in each place. My soul was not always at home.
But if I’m honest, not every place has felt like home.
I don’t mean whether the house was nice or the neighborhood was safe. I’m talking deeper than that, soul deep. Some places just didn’t feel right to me, no matter how hard I tried. My body was there, my mind was trying to adjust, but my spirit? It never really settled.
This blog isn’t about complaining. Every duty station brought some good things, new friends, new adventures, and memories I’ll always keep. But over the years, I’ve realized something important: each of us has a part of the earth that feels like it matches us. It’s not just about comfort, it’s about belonging.
Some people feel that connection at the beach. I totally get that. There is something spiritual about the ocean, the sound of the waves, the salt in the air, the way the horizon seems to go on forever. It’s peaceful and powerful all at once.
But for me? The ocean isn’t home. It’s a great vacation spot, but not where my soul wants to stay.
I need mountains. I need forests and fields. I need wide open spaces where I can see for miles and the red painted deserts. I need to feel the solid ground under me, the kind you get in places like Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and now Kansas. There’s something grounding about those landscapes. They make me feel awake, alive, and like the best version of myself.
We spent about 12 years stationed in places that were close to the coast… Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, even some time in the deep South. Beautiful spots, no doubt. But something always felt a little off for me. I’d gain weight. I was more tired. It was like my body was reacting to the mismatch between me and the place.
But every time we moved back toward the mountains or the heartland, I’d feel a shift. I’d have more energy. I’d be outside more. I’d feel like myself again.
Maybe it sounds silly. But I don’t think it is. I think our spirits know when we’re somewhere we belong.
It’s not about state pride or scenery (though that helps). It’s about how your whole being responds to a place. Does it energize you? Calm you? Inspire you? That’s the difference between living in a place and really living with a place.
Military life doesn’t always let us choose where we go. That’s one of the hardest parts. We don’t get to follow our hearts when orders come down. We must bloom where we’re planted, even if the soil isn’t what we’d choose.
But even in all that moving, it’s important to listen to yourself. Pay attention to how your body and spirit feel in different places. It can tell you a lot about who you are and what you need.
You don’t have to hate a place for it not to be your place. Some of our duty stations were beautiful. Some had great people. Some gave me special memories. But they were just stops along the way. Not destinations.
And now, as we get closer to the end of my husband’s career, I’m starting to think more about where we’ll land for good. We’ve got two years until retirement, and for the first time, it’s our choice. That’s a big shift.
I’m not just thinking about job options or cost of living. I’m thinking about where my soul feels at peace. Where I feel grounded. Where I want to grow old.
Some places grow on you. Others pass through like seasons. But a few? A few feel like you’ve known them forever.
That’s the place I’m looking for.
So, if you’re a fellow military spouse or just someone who’s moved around a lot, ask yourself this:
Where does your soul feel at home?
Because one day, when the moving finally stops, that’s where you should be.
I really enjoyed this blog This Is What a “Soul Home” Is, and How I Found Mine
Also One of my other blogs, Sometimes You Thrive, And Sometimes You Survive.
