When we were in France last month, before we’ve even left for our first post, I thought about why Paris would be a good second post for us. We’ll be able to speak French. We’ll probably be ready for a change of scenery from West Africa and it’s a big embassy, making it a perfect location for a tandem couple.

And that’s what I’ve noticed during our admittedly limited experience with the Foreign Service. We’ve spent the whole time looking ahead – to A100, to Flag Day, to Benin, to our second post. Will it always be this way, or is it just because everything is new to us? When you know you’ll be moving every couple of years, hopefully to someplace exciting, how do you focus on where you are? So that’s my question. What can we do to make sure we always appreciate where we are and aren’t always just waiting for the next big change?

It’s strange to think that by next year I’ll be far away in Benin and couldn’t participate in the NYC Tri even if I wanted to. Not that I want to. My old man knees are crying out for retirement.

Alex and I are eyeing the Marathon de Paris, however. It would be a great way to see the city, although I think my knee just gave me a dirty look.