Your post brought up some past memories about "Baching".

In the late 80's, I was ordered to run the Medical Department on a USN 7th Fleet Destroyer based out of Yokosuka, Japan.

RE: The Overseas Assignment

I was offered two options:

1. A four year tour with my wife and kids or

2. A two year "unaccompanied" tour (without my family) as a "Geographical Bachellor" ("GB" for short).

After much discussion about the kids and my wife's job, we decided that I would go the GB route.

End Result?

In less than 8 months, she found another partner and asked for a divorce.
Me? A year later, before my tour of duty was up, I married a Japanese National.

She was my 3rd and last ex-wife.

Imagine that?

In lak'ech, Jaichai