Welcome to Milkweed and Monarchs. I’m Dawn Klem, and today, I take you back to a pivotal moment in my early Navy days—the transition from the barracks, or as I called it, “the dungeon,” to a small bungalow with two fellow hospital corpsmen.

Susan, Cindy, and I were eager to escape the barracks, but moving wasn’t as simple as we’d hoped. With only one car between us—and an unwilling driver—Cindy and I found ourselves hauling our oversized sea bags onto buses, determined to start fresh.

The bungalow was far from perfect, and tensions quickly surfaced. Susan’s reluctance to share, Cindy’s struggle with loneliness, and my need for light and order made for an interesting dynamic. But amid the challenges, unexpected friendships emerged—including one with our landlord, David, a quintessential California free spirit who introduced me to the city in ways I never imagined.

This episode is about resilience, adaptation, and the small moments that shape us. Join me as I recount the highs and lows of finding independence, navigating friendships, and learning to make the best of an imperfect situation.