ETA: I got a chance to see the New Jersey when she came to the Rose Festival in 1990 (I think). Damn, that thing was cool.
Prompt, it was like that where ever we went, (with the exception of Naples, Italy for some peculiar reason)
heNice and Monte Carlo. There were so many cars of people who wanted to see the Jersey that the highway between Nice and the Ville was completely closed off to through traffic for the first time in it's history! I'm not sure if the novelty wore off when the other three Iowa's were recommissioned after us, but I'd guess that it wouldn't have, they had an aura about them that was uniquely American in a "John Wayne" kind of way!
The sad part is, there are a lot of wives who actively try to keep their husbands IN the military. Usually wives with medical problems (Nevy benefits), no social skills (Wives clubs provide friends), and a myriad of other reasons. I met a few wives that were real pieces of work.
I'm one of the lucky one's thankfully, we'll be celebrating our 24th anniversary this coming June,5!