It was called, "living on the economy", and depending on your viewpoint, it was either a great experience—or not.

For our family, and from my Military Brat viewpoint, our second trip to Germany in 1973 was a great experience.

Most of the places we lived overseas, we lived on the economy before moving on base. 

The one exception was Japan. We went to Japan in 1948, not long after the war, and dependents were not allowed to accompany the men there. We had to wait for a house on the base. 

Dad went 8 months before us.  It took that long to get a house.

Where there is a military post or base, you will find a military town.

Sometimes there is a love-hate relationship between the "townies" and the military, but one thing is for sure: military towns are where many career military men and women retire, and paydays guarantee towns ongoing economic prosperity.

And, for many Military Brats, military towns become "home", even if you are not born there.

My true life encounter with a praying mantis while living in an off-base housing area in the Philippines during the Cold War.

While there were quarters available at most military bases, as families were moved from base to base, sometimes there was no room at the inn and living off-base or "on the economy" was the only option.