For most of their lives, my kids have lived in fenced, gated, guarded communities; communities where almost everyone knows everyone, or can at least find out all the dirt on someone pretty fast; communities where folks must carry special identification to shop, buy gas, and enter certain buildings; communities where folks look each other in the eye when they pass on the street and, in uniform, show respect with a salute. You probably guessed it - my kids have been raised on military bases. It has been an idyllic childhood for them full of adventure, convenience, and safety, and it will all end in a matter of months.

Living on a base is how I imagine suburban neighborhoods were, and what my own experience was growing up in smalltown, Illinois, twenty and more years ago: Neighbors welcome new neighbors with a plate of cookies, take meals to a family with an illness or a new baby, have back yard barbecues together nearly every weekend in the summer, and make up excuses to throw parties throughout the year. Most of the moms I know on base stay at home with their kids and swap childcare with each other to make doctor's appointments and errands more bearable. Kids are running, riding, playing, screaming, laughing all over the place no matter what the weather. We have sidewalks everywhere! I've observed that military folks jump into friendships more quickly than our civilian counterparts. We make every day count as nobody knows what the next will hold.

My husband has decided to leave active duty service this summer and he's dragging me, kicking and screaming. Actually, I'm done objecting and have now decided to embrace the change if for no other reason than for my kids, who take their cues from me. So this summer we will move several states away and now we're house shopping on line. Today I found the perfect house, except a convicted sex offender lives right around the corner. Did I mention how much I'll miss living in a fenced, gated, guarded community?