Life, Love, Stress and Setbacks

So - my active duty orders were reshuffled on Friday (or - were always this way and I was just unaware). I'm actually not coming on active duty until August 25; from there, my schedule is the same (Benning in January, Knox, then Bliss). So I have the summer off.

I was pretty disappointed at first - less pay, less work, less experience, and a boring summer. But what is the upside?
1. More leisure time. I can relax all summer. I can swim, bike, run, and read to my heart's content.

2. No additional summer duties. I don't have to help plan Orientation - I'll just participate.

3. I can go camping with my dad. It may be the last time in a while. We have been planning a trip for a long time, and now we may actually be able to go.

4. The Union. Need I say any more?

5. Eye surgery. I may get laser eye surgery over the summer so I am set to go without glasses for all of my training. No more BCGs for me... I hope!

6. I can help out with the campaign. I may even get a part time job working for Obama. Who knows?

Downsides:
1. No pay. I can't retire my credit card debt; I was planning to with my first paycheck. In fact, it may grow. I can't get a full time job if I want to keep health insurance, either.

2. My parents are going to Spain. If I had known earlier, I could have gone with them.

3. Boredom. I might as well turn my hours into money, or at least something productive.

4. I have to put together a resume. Yuck.

I think that's about it. Except for the classical problem of money, this summer may actually be better off for this turn of events.