Well, we are in Naples now.  The 24 hours of travelling, drastic time change, luggage lost (then found), Navy Lodge apartment, and jet lag are all kind of a blur now.  I do remember clearly the outpouring of care and support we received from our Navy Band community (some of whom we knew in WA), and the empathy and understanding we got from people who knew what we were going through (everyone who transfers here goes through the initial experience pretty much the same way).  We were tired and foggy for awhile, and stuck on base managing logistics, so I didn’t take many photos.

After about a week or two, we got an apartment on base.  We had “loaner” furniture for another 6 weeks until our own furniture came.  The Navy base has been a good place to live so far: the gym, groceries, the Nex, the swimming pool, movie theater, bowling alley, playgrounds, school, etc. are all within walking distance.  Our apartment is spacious and bright, our neighbors are nice, and it’s been very easy to meet new people and run into people we already know.  The kids can meet up with friends, people are here to watch our dog, it is a place where most people who live off-base come regularly, and it is safe.  It’s different from life outside the base by 100%… but those stories are for another time.  Here are a few snaps I took at the start.

:: We walked everywhere until our car came, about 6 weeks after we arrived.  Matt bought a cruiser for hauling groceries after we’d spent too many afternoons walking home with loaded backpacks while being poured on by rain.  The medical and dental clinics are on base, and the doctors have been extremely nice and easy-going.  Orthodontic care is also free.  It’s the easiest place I’ve ever been for handling our medical and dental needs.

:: We get grand views of Mount Vesuvius wherever we go (this one was from the window of Ikea).

:: Matt is super busy with his new Navy Band.  Starting a new job is stressful (every Band is so different from the others that it is like a brand new job), and he is going to be, and has been for the past few weeks, out of town quite a bit during the spring months.

:: We have a perfect view of the sunset every night from our window!  We also have morning sun on our balcony for the pooch.

:: Our friends from the Navy Band in Washington moved out here a year before we did, so they helped us get our bearings when we arrived.  Most importantly, they taught us about Naples pizza!  On another night with them, we tried our hand at making pizza ourselves… but it wasn’t nearly as tasty.

:: Ashton turned 13 just after we arrived.  She had met a couple of girls and invited them to the bowling alley on base for some American pizza (not the same though), cake and bowling.

:: The kids are very engaged with their interests.  Ash has been enjoying her friend and taking live online art, writing, and cooking classes on Outschool.com.  Cedar has been yoyo-ing, taking Judo on the Navy base, and also took an Archery class.

:: It snowed here for the first time in 60 years.  It was pretty neat when school got cancelled and what felt like the ALL the kids on base went outside to play.  I’ve never seen so many people playing in snow so happily!

:: We got our stuff and went crazy for about a week.  It’s nice to have a home.

I will report more later.  Stay tuned!