Englishtart

Didn't think I would be posting this question for a few years yet, but things are never 'predictable' where the military is concerned!

Ok, hubby is going to be on the move again here pretty soon, we have a few options as far as locations and I was hoping to get some expert advice from you guys


Our priorities are things like schools (16 yr old son) so High schools, also continued education (Son is a lil' smart ass,lol)
Climate, sick of hot/humid summers, but could cope with dry heat (maybe)
Don't really want big city living, prefer smaller towns
Access to Airports.
Local attitude to military (may be a tough one to answer)

Anyway, I am just starting out on this information gathering journey, so I will be doing some searching of the older threads for tit bits, but thought I would kick it off with input from ya'll

Here are a few of the choices......
Pensacola, FL (I know, I know)
Eglin, FL (again, I know!)
McChord, WA
Shepherd, TX
Hickham, HI

We have lived in SA, TX and I wasn't thrilled with it, but Shepherd may be in a nicer area?

Over to you guys, thanx for any advice, suggestions you can contribute

Rete

I'd pick Washington State. Never been there but on the top of the list of places I want to visit before I die.

tonrob

One of those is in Hawaii. What's your question?

The Horticulturalist

Mchord AFB is in Seattle area, so I'd definitely go for that if I had your tick list. The climate is nice if you want away from the heat. not a massive city but a very nice one.
Direct flights to London from there too, Don't know about school there.

Failing that I'd pick Eglin because at least you'd be on the coast and by the beach. It's hard to beat the sunsets there in the fall.

Is your husband a pilot? If you ever get sent to Columbus AFB let me know

Englishtart

I am pretty keen to go to WA myself, so, that is top of (my) list for now, obviously schools will be the deciding factor, they have to be.

Hawaii sounds pretty good to me too, but mostly because our oldest son is stationed there with the Navy, I have heard that the military is not really that well liked there though?

Hubby isn't a pilot (though that was why he signed up!) he is a historian for the AF and loves his job! He did it as active duty, he retired in 07' and won't consider doing anything else!

Jaxbar

Having been in Pensacola nearly 4 years, I would go to Hawai

Seriously it is a pretty place and there are some interesting places to see, the economy is not good and even before there were few decent paying jobs.

Plenty of retirees decide to stay and people generally love the military.

My stepson is in High School, I have nothing to compare it to but the school seems pretty good and there were other choices requiring an entrance exam but he wanted to play football.

The summers are hot and humid and there is the potential of hurricanes. Most people I know who have left want to come back.

Peronally its one of those situations for me- Of all the places in all the US how did I end up here? but I am making the best of it and many people absolutely love it.

Take a look at the local newspaper to get a feel of the place. http://www.pnj.com/

The Horticulturalist

how many years will you posted wherever?

On reflection, Hawaii might be a go-er especially with your son there. I mean, when would you ever have the chance again to live on a tropical island? Can you get flights back and forth with the AF? It's pricey to take commercial flights there even from the US, I don't know how much it would be to go back to the UK from there.

Poppy girl

Yes I agree with Rete its wonderful, and I get there myself for work, so we could have a few

another bloody yank

My God, have you even unpacked yet?

I vote McChord BTW...

AmerLisa

We have a lot of military families in our area (some are friends that have left to go other places) that are stationed at McChord. The area we live in is pretty nice, weather is pretty agreeable all year round. We do get some snow in the winter, but not too much. Summers are pretty mild. Puyallup school district is very good as well. There is plenty of outdoor activities around here, if you like that and we are within 45 minutes of an airport. Seattle proper is about an hours drive away as well.

If we had family here (and not flung to the ends of the earth) I'd actually love living here. But even then I find very little to complain about. Let me know if you want more information.....

tonrob

I spent a couple of days in Peniscola once, when Mrs tonrob and I were on our road-trip that started and finished in Vancouver(!)

Beach was very nice, as I recall. Did see on TV sometime later than someone had been eaten by a shark there, which made us feel a little uneasy about our memories of splashing around in the surf...

penguinsix

Hawaii is expensive...very.

I mean, it's a massively wonderful experience, and if you have some help on the housing it might be worth considering a few years doing not much but sitting on the beach and whatnot, but it's pricey to live (unless you steer clear of the touristy bits). You'll be a minority there (mostly Asian) and your kid might get picked on occasionally for being a Haole boy. I wouldn't say there is an overall anti-military attitude since so much of the state's economy is dependent on the major bases (Pearl Harbor, Hickam, Schoffield Barracks, Kaneohe, Pahokaloa (sic)). I mean there are military everywhere on the islands. It's not going to be a rah-rah as Texas but not much is.

The schools are hit and miss. The public schools are generally not ranked very high vs. schools on the mainland (at a sort of 'overall level') but you can find good schools if you look and work at it.

It is also isolated. I remember flying from Chicago to Hawaii and after a few hours the pilot came on and said 'look down on the left, there is the Golden Gate." About 45 minutes later he came on and said 'ok, we're halfway through our trip now' and I was like 'oh god...'

But if you want to visit the Pacific it's a great place to be based. NZ, Australia, Japan, Guam, Phillipines, etc.

Englishtart

NO!! still have boxes everywhere, but hey, that's not unusual for us!


Thanx Lisa (guys)
I have been doing some research on the schools in WA, I have looked at Puyallup and Lacey and Olympia, pretty confusing to say the least, I have been reading reviews by students/parents, but most if not all (except) Olympia were contradictory
Do you have any ideas of the rental prices for houses/apartments in any of these areas? We would need at least a 2 bed/2 bath in a decent area
Thanx guys, I knew you would be helpful

I think Hawaii would be fun, I think I would be more excited if it were just hubby and I, not heard too many good things about the school system there, but I am doing some checking on that. I think the next move will be for at least 4 years

AmerLisa

Puyallup is your best bet.....especially for schools. Rentals are pretty easy to find. I don't know much about Olympia schools, but it is a big city (capital of WA) and not sure if you'd like it if you don't want a big city. Don't look in Lakewood, Spanaway or Tacoma - schools are not good. Also stay away from Clover Park School District.

Englishtart

Thanx Lisa, will stick to Puyallup for research then