In the Marine Corps cycle of life, every November means dusting off the dress uniform, (making sure it still fits!) and finding a gown that hasn’t been worn at the current duty station in anticipation of the Marine Corps ball.
For some, retiring means not having to go to a ball ever again (and no longer having to fit into a uniform), but for us this year was a marker of how far we’ve come. Last year at this time we had no idea where we’d be in November 2018 — if Josh would have a job or what country we’d be living in. We knew change was coming, but not what form it would take. We were hoping to be employed and living in Abu Dhabi and told each other that if we were still here we’d come back to the ball and celebrate being retirees. 
Of course it’s the only photo we took all night — a quick snap for Camille on our way out of the hotel room.
We had a very fun night with longtime Marine friends who live in Dubai. 
But the drain of the past 6 months was evident as we did not have a triumphant return to the dance floor, but more of a collapsing over the finish line of a race. We made it. We enjoyed it. We sat and chatted and went home before 11. #retireefun