What will life be like after retirement? As one who grew up in the Air Force, I find it hard to imagine. Perhaps I'll experience culture shock beyond any I've found in our overseas tours.

This week's Spouse Calls (Click here to read) is a letter from a spouse who has encountered many difficulties on the road to retirement. Her experiences illustrate the need for planning and preparation when it's time for this major life change.

I have also received an update from her with some good news, although she has been disappointed in her overall experience.

Read on, and then share your thoughts about life after the military ...

"What's that sound, Mommy?" My 2-year-old son looked up from splashing in his bath. It was a Sunday afternoon in August, a summer day; but then every day is summer on Guam.

"Just an airplane, sweetie," I said, picking up the wash cloth and swishing it over his back. A lifetime of living near the flightline had inured me to aircraft sounds. Still, I thought, that must be a big one. I wondered why the roaring sound didn't fade away as the plane passed over.

Instead it grew stronger, rattling the walls. For a few seconds, I remained sitting on the floor with my hands in the sudsy water, while the sound and the movement grew stronger.

Do military families experience more than their share of natural disasters? I don't know, but I have seen the military community cross paths a few times with flood, fire and storms:

Finding a job is a challenge for many military spouses. This quest is even more difficult when an ocean separates the spouse from his or her prospective job market.

This week's Spouse Calls (click here to read) calls on Janet Farley, a military spouse and author of several books on career and workplace issues, to help with a question about an overseas job search.

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