Army Brat: Growing Up Military

High school was officially over and I was adamantly opposed to being affiliated with the military, any longer.  Then again, I was adamantly opposed to anything my parents were involved with.  This included the military, going to college, and of course, Republicans.  It did not help that I had been an Army brat the last 17 years of my life, toted across the US like a carry-on bag.  I was sick of all the moving and sick of all the extra mandates that came with being in the military.  Being a military brat meant there were certain household rules the family had to abide by, ones that normal families might think strange.  There was the no painting or wallpapering of walls rule, no digging up the yard rule, and no purchases of anything permanent or long-term rule.  Having pets was based on our housing situation.  So for several years, they too were shipped around to various relatives for safe-keeping.  Having friends longer than a few years was a joke and I became quite adept at making the obligatory promise of keeping in touch with a straight face.  Thus, when the time came for me to make