Operation Homelife
Making a Temporary House A Home By Krysta Murray
I
t’s that time of year again. Yes, summer, but it is also PCS season, or Permanent Change of Station season, which ironically, is still only temporary for many. As a spouse to someone who has had five PCSs in the span of 17 years, I can say I have lived in many places that just felt like a stopover. Granted, some people are in one place an entire military career and others have moved many more times over, but I mostly know a transitory life. I forget most of the addresses I’ve lived at, in fact. We only ever actually owned one of them, but we didn’t get to spend a lot of time there. How do you make a place you know you’ll leave after a few years feel like a home? Yes, having your own things definitely helps. But also, sometimes those things don’t fit well. I’m looking at my enormous couch that is so out
of place in my current living room. My husband also likes to remind me how I insisted on painting a kitchen red and how much time and paint it took to repaint it when we left. We haven’t done that ever again. So I’ve become creative in personalizing space, trying not to make any permanent changes to any structure for less of a headache when I pack up next.
Container Garden San Diego is a zone 10 on the USDA hardiness map, which provides a standard definition of climatic conditions relevant to plant growth and survival. That puts it in a zero freeze level which means things can grow year round. This allows quite a bit of gardening options, though it’s also a good idea to make sure the plants are hearty enough to grow well in the heat and sun.
Instead of tearing up a space in your yard to plant, only to tear it all out when you move, try a container garden. This might require buying various pots, some rather large, but you are likely able to keep them when you move. This makes it easier to transfer plants to someone else, or sell the plant and the pot together for a little money returned. We have been able to grow many vegetables in containers and they produce plenty of supply - sometimes even more than I need! I’ve even traded fresh produce with neighbors. I’ve also received some plants from others who have moved and find it fun to know the same plant that fed them, now feeds us. Sometimes I wish I could message them and give them a status update, but I haven’t always known the people I got them from...which leads me to my next idea.
Freecycle and Yard Sales Many times there are pieces of furniture or decor that fits in one home but not in another. It often ends up going to someone else for free or for very little cost. That one shoe rack that fits snugly in that odd space by the back door is not likely going to find a perfect space in the next house. Sometimes when you’re moving, it’s a good idea to see what people living in similar homes are getting rid of when
P76 | Coronado Magazine
