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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Comfort

I may have mentioned this before, but the only thing that separates my backyard (garden) from the Air Force base that I live next to is a road and a fence. The aircraft take off and land practically in my backyard. To most this would be a nuisance, but to me, it is a comforting sound. I like to sit in KiKi's room while she is falling asleep, close my eyes and listen to the low hum of an aircraft engine. It is almost like having a white noise machine. Yeah, it can be loud at times like when I am on the phone outside, but it to me is a piece of home. I have a piece of home right across the street. I also have double glazing on my windows so I don't hear much inside the house other than the low hum of engines occasionally.

To me an Air Force base has become home. No matter where you go most bases look generally the same. The all the BXs look the same. All the Commissaries have the same signs. The buildings are all brick or tan. Decor is of course limited. Everything is about function not form. Genericville, USA. Consistency however brings comfort. Little bits of the ordinary. Comfort. A sense of belonging. Comfort. Sounds of gunfire from the practice range. Comfort. The sound of aircraft taking off and landing. Comfort.

22 comments:

MikeH said...

"... Sounds of gunfire from the practice range. Comfort ..."
I'm an American, I understand ;)

Very nice post, but do you get to see much of the 'real' England at all?

Badass Geek said...

No matter where you live, it's all about finding the things that make you feel comfortable.

If for you its airplane engines and gunfire, then so be it. =)

Me, You, or Ellie said...

That rat-a-tat-a-tat lulls sings you to sleep.... ;)

Ellie

Cape Cod Gal said...

We live right near the town airport and when the wind is right the planes fly overhead. I understand the comfort thing.

Jess said...

Ahhh, the sounds of an Air Force Base. I practically grew up at Robins AFB in Warner Robins, Georgia...my grandparents retired from there (both sides) and my parents still work there (civilian). I went to college on base (satellite office for GA Military College), I went to day camp on base, my parents were married on base! :) I am glad it comforts you!!!

Reinvent Dad said...

I grew up in the Mojave Desert north of Los Angeles in a small town that was built around a naval base. Even though we lived in town, every activity including school was accomplished on base. In looking back, I think we did feel more secure knowing the base was just beyond our backyard. The only thing I could have done without were the occasional sonic booms that rattled our windows and nerves.

Sprite's Keeper said...

Nice way to put it!

Irish Gumbo said...

We takes our comforts where we's can gets it. Adapt and thrive, that is a good way to view it when you are far from where you started.

Good one, Kat.

Anonymous said...

They do at that. Like Mike, I really do feel the same way about gunfire from the range too. lol We've lived near it for 30 yrs! It's comforting.

rachael chatoor said...

LOL, I live near a flight path, by a busy road, and right beside a train track. hehe, Planes, trains, and automobiles, and I am very used to it, I don't even hear when the train rumbles past my bed at 2 am. :).

Cameron said...

We all have our own versions of comfort, it's based on environment I guess. For example, I find comfort in cheap domestic beer and my ass imprint on the couch ;)

for a different kind of girl said...

Beautiful way of putting it! I'll admit I didn't feel a similar way when the snow plows were barreling down the roads at 4 a.m., and that's all I could hear!

Captain Dumbass said...

My boys would kill to live with you. My boys would kill me to live with you.

Elle Charlie said...

Isn't it odd sometimes the noises we find comforting?

When I lived in Boston it was the sound of kids bouncing a basketball at the courts outside our back window - it meant summer to me, and when I heard it I felt oddly comforted.

Lola said...

Whatever works for ya! I'm comforted by the sound of crickets and bullfrogs all summer long.

Bobby G said...

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Check me out!

Now I cant really under stand aircraft engines as white noise! Fans are white noise! Air craft jet engines are LOUD AS HELL! I guess you learn to tune it out eventually! But glad it makes ya feel good!

Auntie A said...

My comfort zone for home is the smell of pluff mud! Last night it was really strong on the way home and cousin B said "boy mom that sure smells good!" Some foreigners(those not from the low country) find it offensive, they just don't get it, sorta like gun fire and you!!!

Anonymous said...

While in the Navy I was used to hearing helicopters flying around day and night too. Now the only one we hear is the police one out searching for some criminal or other.

It bugs me to death and keeps me awake now.

How times change.

Sharon said...

I grew up on Air Force bases - when I lived in Chatham, New Brunswick, our house was situated in the same place as yours - a yard, a fence, a landing strip. But I have the most awesome memories of living on base - the cheap movies, the snow sculpting contests every year, the christmas party. I'd do it all again in a heart beat.

Anonymous said...

It's interesting what noises we all find comforting. I imagine you must have triple glazing!

Since starting work from home I'm comforted by the sound of people struggling to work outside when I've returned to snuggle under my duvet for twenty minutes. He-he!

Anonymous said...

You alwasy need a constant and that is awesome you have it even in a different county.
I would need that if I left the country and traveled as much as you do.

The Mad Housewife said...

Way to be RIGHT on the flight line girl! When I was in Iraq we lived less than 20 feet from the runway- when I lived at Cherry Point my house was half a mile away from base, in the DIRECT line of takeoff. The F-18s flew so low over my house I could see the pilots face, LOL! It got to the point where I couldn't sleep without the rumble of engines :)