Permanent Party

I just remembered something funny that happened to me before Xmas, but I forgot about it after the excitement of Xmas and New Years and getting engaged.

I was flying to Alabama to meet up with my boyfriend and was sitting next to a guy on the plane and we were talking about my boyfriend being in the military.

And he asks: So does he live on post?
And I reply: No, he bought a house in a nearby town.
He replies: Oh, so permanent party, huh?
Me, somewhat perplexed: Um, no actually he is pretty relaxed. He is beyond that. I mean, he is 30 years old. He just likes staying home and hanging out.
The guy looks at me, just as perplexed: Uhh…permanent party. He’s had a permanent change of station as opposed to just temporarily being stationed there?
Me (totally having lost face with my normally genius level expertise with all things military): Ooooooh. Yeah, exactly.