Geo-bachelor is simply defined as geographically separated families. As with everything, there are pros and cons but this is a subject that is always up for debate. You have to be a special person who’s strong and dedicated to do this, it does have benefits.

Housing

Move where you plan to retire and buy a house! Instead of using money for rent near base you’ll be investing in something that will be yours! Word of caution; remember my post about in-laws. Don’t let the husband look for anything in the same zip code as your monster/mother-in-law.

Medical

We all know how tedious and trying going to the various clinics and hospitals can be. At ‘home,’ your kids can establish medical care with a caregiver who will never deploy or rotate departments.

Cost of living

Unfortunately I’m not a long lost Kardashian or Real Housewives of Anything or lottery winner. Living in Southern California we pay Orange County kinds of prices and sales tax for gas, food, rent, etc. The DoD pay without the added cushion of COLA leads to being up a creek when products and services fluctuate price. Extreme couponing, help us!

Schools

When there are 35+ kids to a room and only one teacher something or someone is bound to slip through the cracks. If you feel your kid is behind or lacking something because there isn’t enough time in the day or the agenda doesn’t call for special attention; make a change. Kids only get one chance at an education so whether it’s homeschooling or your ‘home’ district make sure you and your child feel stable, validated and confident in the education plan for your child.

Jobs

Southern Californians will tell you there are no jobs here but I swear it’s like a NASCAR Race to get a parking spot at the mall here in the middle of a weekday. Many people have looked and had to resort to traveling many miles to get a decent job. If you know you can help your family financially being a geo-bachelor couple you “gotta do what you gotta do.”

Support systems

Some people are comfortable coming from the other side of the country to a new state and gaining a new circle of friends and creating new family care plans. Support systems are hard to stumble upon sometimes in our lifestyles so in geo-bachelor relationships it can be quite easier to live near family.

Will this ruin my marriage? t’s basically a voluntary extended deployment. If you’re going to party like it’s 1999 because your friends are back home and mostly single, this probably isn’t for you. It takes a strong marriage with a foundation built on trust, honesty and transparency to do this. You can always use your support system to babysit for a weekend to use Space A to fly out and have a romantic weekend away!

Questions or comments? Email us! You can also follow my The Real Housewives of the Marine Corps blog.

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