Given its history of more than 200 years of peace, few countries in Europe have waited for war as long as Sweden. The Swedish military experience in modern history is thus one of endlessly waiting – of preparing for war but not fighting it. To find oneself ‘stuck’ in a space between war and peace is essentially a Swedish experience that cuts across time, and which has affected soldiers and military as well as society at large. As part of a larger research project on military boredom in the Swedish past and present, the present study explores how military inactivity and waiting affect notions of soldier identity, masculinity, feelings of meaningfulness, military ideals and morale. The paper outlines the theoretical points of departure and research design for a diary study with Swedish soldiers currently employed by the Swedish army.