Today I went to a store and when I went to make my purchase the cashier asked me if I had one of the store's "reward" cards. I told her yes, but I had no idea where the card was located. She asked for the phone number I used when I applied for the card... this can be a difficult question for a military spouse. I told her I was military and had to think about where I applied for the card because we move a lot. Then the conversation went like this:
Cashier: How many times have you moved?
Me: In the last year, or total?
Cashier: Umm... both?
Me: Twice in the last year and seven times in the last 13 years (technically 8 moves since we did one on our own when we bought a house).
Cashier: (Eyes open wide and jaw hanging open). I don't think I could do that.
Me: It's not for everyone, but I love it.
Needless to say, I could not remember the phone number I had just one year ago. I could remember my old work number, but not my old phone number. The funny thing is, I still remember my phone number from my second duty station (and I haven't lived there in 9 years)!
A little piece of advice: keep track of all of your addresses while in the military (I do have those in a file). I have needed these addresses for background checks numerous times for jobs and school. You don't have to remember the phone numbers, but definitely write down all the addresses because you never know when you might need them.
How many times have you moved and in how many years? It's not a competition (because I know many people have moved more often than I have), but I am curious.
