Invisible.

It’s like I don’t even exist.

I can’t speak about other military bases, but Quantico is 100% centered on
kids and families with kids.
There are playgrounds on literally every corner – including directly across from my house.
There are like, 8 schools, just for this one base.
The CDC (child development center) is huge and apparently they’re building a second (or is this the third?) one…IN my neighborhood. I see the crane from my house.
There are extra-wide sidewalks everywhere for runners with baby strollers.
Even the military spouses Facebook page I’m a member of is focused on kids. Every day, I get about 10 emails with posts with questions all relating to kids:
My kid’s screaming, someone wanna come babysit?
My kid is so cute, please vote for him.
My kid just burped. Awwwww.
My kid had a gross diaper and it looked like green peas – what does this mean?

Seriously??

I’m a dying breed on this base: not super newly married, working full time, and childless. Because of these things, I am invisible. I can’t go get coffee or go to the mall because I’m at work. I can’t go on play dates because I have no kids. I’m not a newly wed so I can’t even bond over that. Everyone here gets knocked up just by their husbands looking at them, so I can’t even bond over the TTC (trying to conceive) ordeal.

And then there’s the dogs. With as many people that have dogs on this base, you think they’d be a bit more pet-friendly.
Housing screws you over if you have pets – I’m talking, you gotta pay $1000’s upon moving out.
All the playgrounds have “NO ANIMALS” signs.
There’s not a single dog park (actually – no dog parks within 30 minutes of me).
Barking dogs are enough to get the cops called on you (but of course kids running up and down the adjoining stairs and screaming babies and annoying brats on the playground with the squeaky swings don’t warrant any sort of attention other than their mother’s going “awwwww look at my baby”).

I have nothing against people with kids – obviously, since I’ve been trying to have one of my own for several months now. But, even though I’d give my left arm to be a part of this elite majority, I unfortunately cannot be in this group right now. So what am I supposed to do? How do I meet people? I’m sorry, but I want to go to a nice restaurant and stay out late sometimes – screaming babies and whiney kids just make it miserable. I love kids, but since I don’t have any yet, I want to enjoy life without them for a while, but that’s apparently impossible here.

And another thing. How the heck am I supposed to meet new friends? I’m telling you, it’s impossible. And frustrating. And makes the TTC process just all that more frustrating.