In military communities, neighbors are often much more than the people living in the house next door. They can become trusted friends, an extra set of eyes on the neighborhood and over time even family.

Military life has a way of bringing people together. Families arrive at new duty stations knowing they may only be there for a few years and the people living nearby can quickly become an important part of their support system. While civilian neighbors may exchange a wave or a friendly hello, military families often find themselves relying on one another in ways that go much deeper.

On a military base, people see families come and go. Some neighbors become friends, while others become the kind of people who feel like family long after one of them receives orders to move somewhere else.

Sometimes, a neighbor is also a coworker. Other times, it is the person who checks in when a spouse is away at the field or on a mission. It may be the neighbor who watches for a package, keeps an eye on the house or sends a quick text to let someone know the garage door was left open or the kids accidentally left a side door unlocked. Those small acts of kindness can make a significant difference during the challenges of military life.

For some families, the relationship with a neighbor becomes so close that they become part of one another’s background checks or family care plans. Trust develops through everyday moments, sharing a meal, helping with children, checking on a home or simply being there when someone needs a familiar face.

Erin Beene remembers that kind of connection from the very beginning of her military-spouse journey. “The very first military spouse I ever met was our duplex neighbor at my first base almost 17 years ago. She came over with a plate of cookies one day and invited me to go sledding.”

What started with cookies and an invitation to go sledding grew into a friendship that has lasted nearly two decades. Today Erin shared that they are still “BFFs” and she even flew down to celebrate her 40th birthday and they have girls’ trips frequently.

For Samantha Babcock, having a great neighbor has also made military life feel a little easier. “It can really make life so much better if you love your neighbors, and we sure hit the jackpot with her neighbor, Stephanie Johnson!” Samantha shared.

Although military orders can eventually separate even the closest neighbors, those friendships often continue long after a move. For Samantha and Stephanie, they won’t have to wait much longer, the two friends will soon be reunited.

On Siesta, Chelsea Raley said her neighborhood has become its own community. “We hit the neighbor jackpot here on Siesta! Our group has turned into a real village!” Chelsea shared. “Between daily hangs, impromptu potlucks, and all of our kids running around together, we’re constantly looking out for each other. They say it takes a village. I’m so glad we found ours.”

That village mentality is one of the things that can make military communities unique. With deployments, temporary duty assignments, training exercises and frequent moves, military families often understand the importance of having people nearby who simply get it.

Neighbors may be the ones who notice when someone has had a difficult week. They may be the people who step in when a spouse is gone, invite a family over for dinner or make sure no one spends a holiday alone. For military families, the right neighbors can make or break the experience at a duty station. A house can be just a house, but the people surrounding it can turn it into a home.

In the end, military life may be defined by movement, but the friendships built along the way can become some of its most lasting memories. A neighbor may start as a stranger across the street, but with a little kindness, a plate of cookies, a shared potluck or a helping hand, that person can become part of the family.

As a military spouse, a special shout-out goes to my awesome neighbor, Madison Kennon, who always calls or texts when the dog gets out, shares conversations from across the street, joins in for ladies’ nights, brunch, and most of all, has become a wonderful friend. Thank you for your friendship and for making the neighborhood feel a little more like home.